Judson's Spring Concert of Worship to celebrate lives of Lynn Hammerlund and Lynn Shaffer

The Demoss Center for Worship and the Performing Arts will host its Spring Concert of Worship at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in Herrick Chapel on the campus of Judson University, 1151 N. State St., Elgin.

The event, in memory of Lynn Hammerlund and Lynn Shaffer, will feature the Judson Civic Orchestra and the Judson University Choir.

This is a non-ticketed, free event, however a freewill offering will be collected.

It will celebrate the lives of these two former Judson employees by reciting scripture and performing the music they loved.

Lynn Hammerlund was a librarian at Judson and talented vocalist, performing in vocal recitals and musicals at Judson.

Lynn Shaffer was an administrator in the Professional Studies department and wife of professional bassist, Tim Shaffer. She loved orchestral music and opera.

Special guest artists will include acclaimed vocalists soprano Maria Kanyova, baritone Ghibong Kim, and tenor and Judson vocal professor Josh Jones.

They will perform selections from Puccini's "La Boheme," as well as music of Bach, Strauss, Handel, Brahms and more. John Gorman will be featured on trumpet.

Mark Torgerson and Professor Kimberly Schmidt of Judson University will recite scripture.

The concert will conclude with a congregational singing of Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus.

The Judson Civic Orchestra is directed by Robert Kania and Ernest Gross. The Judson University Choir is directed by Warren Anderson.

Artistic director Kania said that, "Both Lynn Hammerlund and Lynn Shaffer were beloved members of the Judson community. I can't think of a better way to celebrate their lives than through the music and scripture passages they loved. I truly hope that the concert will serve as a reflection on the honor we all had to work alongside these wonderful ladies during their time at Judson."