Amid Grief, University Singers Share Hope
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. – Over fall break, the University Singers took to the road once again, singing their way through the foothills of Arizona. As Southwestern Adventist University’s (SWAU) premier touring choir, the group performed five concerts in four days across the Scottsdale area.
One highlight for the students was performing at Thunderbird Adventist Academy and then joining the school’s annual fall festival. The Singers played games with Thunderbird students, enjoyed fall treats and spent the evening supporting the festival together.
SWAU alum and former adjunct music professor Lindsey Johnson helped organize the trip. Now completing her doctorate in musicology at Arizona State University, Johnson was instrumental in arranging opportunities for the Singers to perform in Scottsdale venues.
“As an alumna who sang with the choir for years, I toured internationally four times and countless times across the United States,” said Johnson. “I know firsthand what a weekend tour feels like. The early mornings, the long flights, the joy of sharing music and the spiritual connection that forms within the group. But this weekend was different. For the first time, I was on the other side—the host instead of the singer—and it gave me a whole new appreciation for what the choir brings to each community they visit.”
The trip took on a different tone when the students learned that one of their fellow SWAU students, Wiz Sebulburo, died while on vacation during the break. The loss deeply affected the group, as several of Sebulburo’s close friends were among the singers. At first, the students didn’t feel ready to sing even though their concert repertoire included songs of hope, such as “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” and “A New Jerusalem,” which includes lyrics about “no more crying, no more tears, no more death, He is making all things new.”
“As we warmed up with ‘Great Are You, Lord,’ the tears were pouring down,” shared Remington Schnieder-Hill, music department adjunct. “But then the mood switched. Peace overflowed us. Jesus’ presence filled the room. We knew we had people waiting who had traveled to hear us. We proceeded to give one of the most heartfelt performances of ‘A New Jerusalem,’ many of us with tears streaming.”
“We were all processing our grief in our own ways,” said Laura Watts, choir member. “My family was also suffering from the loss of a loved one who had passed away a few days before. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever had a more difficult performance, but just seeing how everyone was going out of their way to support one another was truly beautiful. Even the audience was thoughtful and empathetic.”
The students and faculty spent the rest of the day together, reminiscing and grieving. Many expressed gratitude for being surrounded by their choir family instead of facing their sorrow alone.
The impact of the University Singers’ ministry extended beyond the trip itself. “It’s fascinating to see the ‘after-effects’ of a visit—the conversations that continue, the encouragement that lingers, the way people light up when they talk about how deeply the music moved them,” Johnson said. “It’s amazing to witness, from the outside, the mark the University Singers leave wherever they go.”
Even as they ministered through grief, the students fulfilled their mission of sharing Christ’s love. “I now have people reaching out to ask me questions about Southwestern Adventist University,” Johnson added. “That just shows how powerfully this group represents their school. What an honor to host them and to see their ministry from this new perspective.”
“The most powerful part of being in the University Singers,” affirmed Watts, “is the bonds we create.”
By Darcy Force
