JE and the MasterSingers: Who We Are

Propelled by a fervent belief in the power of the choral experience, the group’s leadership has sought opportunities to transform its creative vision into reality, welcoming guest artists and conductors, producing recordings and commissioning new works - by choral greats such as John Rutter, Edwin Fissinger, Dale Grotenhius, Robert Beadell, Jackson Berkey, Boyd Bacon, Dick Palmer, Ric Swanson and the group’s own Jim Elsberry.
Concert selections are chosen for their expression of the depth and breadth of historical and contemporary choral literature. Performed works run the musical gamut, in an effort to both educate audiences and spark appreciation for a wide range of musical styles. The ensemble regularly offers ethnic and culturally diverse concerts, featuring the music of South American, Italian, German and African-American composers and the performances of area musicians such as Mariachi Zapata, La Banda
and Jay Terrell & Higher Praise.









			The MasterSingers is an ensemble of gifted singers from Omaha, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Since its inception in 1969, the ensemble now known as Jim Elsberry and the MasterSingers (formerly “The Voices of Mel Olson” and later “Die Meistersingers”) has strived to nourish the health of choral arts in the region.







		Propelled by a fervent belief in the power of the choral experience, the group’s leadership has sought opportunities to transform its creative vision into reality, welcoming guest artists and conductors, producing recordings and commissioning new works - by choral greats such as John Rutter, Edwin Fissinger, Dale Grotenhius, Robert Beadell, Jackson Berkey, Boyd Bacon, Dick Palmer, Ric Swanson and the group’s own Jim Elsberry. Concert selections are chosen for their expression of the depth and breadth of historical and contemporary choral literature. Performed works run the musical gamut, in an effort to both educate audiences and spark appreciation for a wide range of musical styles. The ensemble regularly offers ethnic and culturally diverse concerts, featuring the music of South American, Italian, German and African-American composers and the performances of area musicians such as Mariachi Zapata, La Banda and Jay Terrell & Higher Praise.
		The Group has appeared in several Nebraska and Iowa locations, and has performed with the SAC (now the Heartland of America) Band. A Christmas recording “Light of Love” was released in 1995, and the choral jazz recording “Friends” was released in the spring of 1997. We hope the MasterSingers rich history is only a prelude to a great future... .