The Seminary Chorus

Founded in 1931, the Chorus has appeared in hundreds of WELS churches around the country to proclaim the Word of God in song and to represent the ministry of the seminary.

Whenever they travel, the men of the Seminary Chorus are eager to talk about the work they do to prepare to serve as pastors. In many ways, their stories are the same: they attend the same classes and study the same subjects. But their stories are also very different. Whatever their backgrounds, they are anxious to meet the people who support them with prayers and gifts. They would be honored if you came to hear them sing the story of the one who loved us all, Jesus our Lord.

Membership in the chorus is open to all students, and the group rehearses three times each week. The choir presents an annual Christmas Concert, performed twice on the second Sunday in December to several thousand guests. A Graduation Concert is held the evening before the seminary’s graduation service in May. The choir regularly participates in worship at nearby congregations during the school year and conducts a concert tour every year during the seminary’s mid-semester break or over Easter vacation. The chorus has appeared in most of the United States as well as in Canada.

2023-2024 Schedule

Printable Copy of Schedule

Saturday, October 7 – WLS Friends of the Seminary Day, Mequon, WI

Sunday, October 29 – New Life, Kenosha/Sommers, WI

Sunday, December 3 – St. John, Mukwonago, WI

Wednesday, December 6 – Loving Shepherd, Milwaukee, WI

Sunday, December 10 – WLS Christmas Concert, Mequon, WI

Wednesday, February 21 – St. John, Lannon, WI

Sunday, February 25 – St. Paul, Brownsville, WI

Wednesday, March 6 – Pilgrim, Menomonee Falls, WI

Sunday, March 10 – St. John Hillside, Milwaukee, WI

Wednesday, March 13 – Peace, Hartford, WI

Sunday, March 17 – Good Shepherd, West Bend, WI

Wednesday, March 20 – Grace, Milwaukee, WI

March 22 – April 2 – Spring Tour to NV and CA

Wednesday, April 10 – Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, WI

Sunday, April 14 – Trinity, Waukesha, WI

Sunday, May 5 – Morning Star, Jackson, WI

Thursday, May 23 – WLS Graduation Concert

Recent concerts

By Grace Alone
Spring 2018

  1. Blessing, Glory, and Wisdom
  2. If Ye Love Me
  3. Salvation Belongeth to Our God
  4. Commit Thy Way unto the Lord
  5. Sing His Praises, Alleluia
  6. By Grace I’m Saved
  7. Betelehemu
  8. Out of the Depths
  9. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
  10. The Church’s One Foundation
  11. This Is the Day
  12. This Is the Feast
  13. Praise God on a Golden Trumpet
  14. Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel
  15. Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying
  16. Crown Him with Many Crowns
  17. Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See

Across the Years, Across the Miles
1995-2016

The anthems on this CD are available on Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music

1. To Thee, Jehovah, Will I Sing Praises J.S. BACH
2. Speak, O Lord GETTY/TOWNSEND
3. All That Hath Life and Breath RENÉ CLAUSEN
4. Cantate Domino HANS LEO HASSLER
5. Our Father ALEXANDER GRETCHANINOV
6. The Church’s One Foundation LEHMANN
7. Begin the Song of Glory Now ALFRED FEDAK
8. Amazing Grace LELAND SATEREN
9. Rock of Ages Cleft for Me SCHMIEGE
10. This Joyful Eastertide S. D. WOLFF
11. Jesus, Priceless Treasure J.S. BACH
12. Free at Las’ ALICE PARKER
13. Exsultate Justi in Domino BRANT ADAMS
14. Takwaba Uwabanga Yesu BEN ALLAWAY
15. Christus Paradox ALFRED FEDAK
16. I Will Praise You, O Lord KNUT NYSTEDT
17. Müde bin ich geh zur Ruh GERMAN FOLK SONG
18. A Hymn to God the Father JOHN NESS BECK
19. Lux Aurumque ERIC WHITACRE
20. This Little Light of Mine HOWARD HELVEY
21. Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal CRAIG CARNAHAN
22. Christ Begins LUKE THOMPSON
23. Jesus Loves Me MICHAEL HASSELL
24. Holy God, We Praise Your Name JOHN FERGUSON
25. Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See KURT EGGERT

Rejoice in the Lord
2016 choir tour

  1. Cantate Domino
  2. Rejoice in the Lord
  3. Alleluia
  4. Nunc Dimittis
  5. Lord, You I Love with All My Heart
  6. Praeludium in e
  7. All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord
  8. O Savior of Our Fallen Race
  9. Christ Begins
  10. And Can It Be?
  11. Christ Lay in Death’s Dark Prison
  12. Lord, Send Out Your Spirit
  13. The Church’s One Foundation
  14. Canson Duo Decimi Toni à 10
  15. Rock of Ages
  16. O Church Arise
  17. Ride the Chariot
  18. Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
  19. Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See
seminary chorus

Our Help in Ages Past, Our Hope for Years to Come
2014 choir tour

  1. God’s Word is Our Great Heritage
  2. Sing Praise to Our Glorious Lord
  3. On God and Not on Human Trust
  4. Ukrainian Alleluia
  5. E’en so, Lord Jesus
  6. Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
  7. Advent
  8. Mary, Did You Know?
  9. God so Loved the World
  10. Ride On, King Jesus
  11. The Church’s One Foundation
  12. His Battle Ended There
  13. Were You There/There is a Balm
  14. One Faith, One Hope, One Lord
  15. Jesus Loves Me
  16. There is a Balm in Gilead
  17. Go Forth and Preach the Gospel
  18. Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See
WLS seminary chorus

All Praise to God
2012 choir tour

  1. Cantate Domino … Hans Leo Hassler
  2. O Christ Who Art the Light and Day … Ralph C. Schultz
  3. Speak, O Lord … Mary McDonald
  4. Oh, Sing Jubilee to the Lord … Brad Holmes
  5. All Praise to God Who Reigns Above … Richard Hillert
  6. Bringer of Light … Kathy Powell
  7. Go and Tell John … Lloyd Pfautsch
  8. They Follow Me … Martin Albrecht
  9. Crucifixus . .. Claudio Monteverdi
  10. This is the Day … Martin Barry
  11. This Little Light of Mine … Howard Helvey
  12. Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal … Craig Carnahan
  13. Jerusalem the Golden … Robert Hobby
  14. Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See … Kurt Eggert
  15. The Church’s One Foundation … Arnold Lehmann
WLS seminary chorus

Christmas at the Seminary
Christmas Concerts 1994-2010

The anthems on this CD are available on Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music

  1. Advent Processional
  2. O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee
  3. All Praise to Thee, Eternal God
  4. Fanfare for Christmas
  5. The Little Village Slept
  6. Silent Night
  7. Freut euch, ihr Christen
  8. Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending
  9. Peace
  10. Sing Alleluia
  11. Mary, Did You Know?
  12. Nunc Dimittis
  13. Once He Came in Blessing
  14. Arise, the Kingdom Is at Hand
  15. Hodie Christus Natus Est
  16. From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
  17. We Three Kings of Orient Are
  18. Go and Tell John
  19. Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
  20. Betelehemu
  21. Now Sing We, Now Rejoice

Let All Rejoice Who Have a Voice to Raise
2008 choir tour

  1. Cantate Domino
  2. From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee
  3. God Be in My Head
  4. A Hymn to God the Father
  5. Now Thank We All Our God
  6. When In Our Music God Is Glorified
  7. Matin Responsory
  8. Hodie Christus Natus Est
  9. Upon the Cross Extended
  10. Peace I Leave With You
  11. This Is the Day the Lord Has Made
  12. The Church’s One Foundation
  13. Praise to the Lord
  14. God Is Our Refuge and Strength
  15. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  16. Takwaba Uwabanga Yesu
  17. Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending
  18. Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See
  19. Canzon Quinta