“Interlude,” a 14-voice choir comprised of current EMU students and recent graduates.

Concerts by choral groups occur regularly on the EMU campus, but this one will be a bit different.

“Interlude,” a 14-voice choir comprised of current EMU students and recent graduates, will present a concert of choral favorites on Wednesday, Apr. 28. But this will be the group’s only performance, and the program is dedicated to the memory of a fallen EMU alumnus.

Admission to the concert, at 7 p.m. in Martin Chapel of the seminary building, is by donation, with all proceeds going to the Matthew Garber Endowed Scholarship Fund at EMU.

Garber: student leader, musician

Garber, 22, a well-loved student leader, musician, and 2008 nursing graduate from Elizabethtown, Pa., was known for his strong faith, musicianship and good sense of humor.

He drowned on July 1, 2008 while on a missions trip in Costa Rica. Garber was planning to begin work as an emergency room nurse at Lancaster (PA) General Hospital the end of that summer.

About the concert

The group will be perform a wide variety of choral music from Rachmaninoff, Lauridsen and several African pieces to selections from a group from Finland called Rajaton. A member described the program as “kind of a ‘greatest hits’ of collective favorites from past choral experiences.”

“We just had a group of people who loved singing and wanted to do it together on a regular basis,” said choir member Katie Derstine.

“But in choosing music and during early rehearsals, Matt (Garber) kept coming to mind. Several of us talked about how pieces reminded us of him and how much he would have enjoyed participating in this project. Turning the concert into a benefit seemed a good way to focus our energy and give a more tangible purpose to what we were doing,” she added.

For more information on the program, contact Katie Derstine at 540-432-4110; email: katherine.derstine@emu.edu.

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EMU received a record $1.48 million for the University Fund, an eight percent increase over last year’s unrestricted giving. The amount included $365,000 to Eastern Mennonite Seminary, also a new record. The University Fund contributions goal was $1.43 million for the year.

The University Fund helps provide financial assistance to students and assists with technology upgrades and other annual operating expenses.

Alumni giving to the University Fund showed the largest increase, coming in at 18 percent above last year.

Carol S. Lown, University Fund director, attributed the increase in giving to “a generous response from alumni and friends to this year’s campaign, which was a major focus of development efforts by the president and regional development directors.”

Restricted giving to EMU was $2,765,961 million compared to $2,261,170 in 2002-2003, excluding a $2 million Lilly Endowment grant received last year. Restricted gifts include donations to the University Commons, direct scholarships to students and special programs such as the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, the Conflict Transformation Program and radio station WEMC-FM.

Direct contributions to the Conflict Transformation Program set a new record at $60,746, as did the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival with $55,284.

Contributions to university endowments increased by 50 percent over last year to $679,530.

The Lisa Haverstick Memorial Nursing Laboratory, a new initiative being established in EMU’s nursing department in memory of a 1991 nursing graduate who died in May of 2003, stands at $109,778.

This remarkable outcome is a real tribute to all of our donors and to the hard work done by the entire advancement staff at EMU,” said President Loren E. Swartzendruber. “I’m also grateful to Beryl H. Brubaker for her special efforts to solicit commitments during her months as interim president, to dean Ervin R. Stutzman for his efforts on behalf of Eastern Mennonite Seminary and to Richard L. Gunden, vice president for advancement. This was the result of a team effort.

“Initial indications are that we should finish the fiscal year with a surplus; all major revenue sources came in at or above budgeted amounts,” the president said.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of so many EMU alumni and friends. These record contributions to the University Fund enable EMU to provide a superb academic and spiritual environment for all of our undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students,” Swartzendruber added.