January 17, 2025

Creston native leading inauguration choir

By JOHN VAN NOSTRAND
University of Nebraska choir members perform in March 2020. Under the direction of Pete Eklund, 120 members will sing at the inauguration of President Donald Trump Monday.

University of Nebraska choir members perform in March 2020. Under the direction of Pete Eklund, 120 members will sing at the inauguration of President Donald Trump Monday. (University of Nebraska)

Creston native and Director of Choral Activities for the University of Nebraska Peter Eklund is taking a choir to a unique performance setting. He will lead 120 choir students for two songs Monday for the inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington D.C.

“We have a tradition to make it sound good,” Eklund said earlier this week in preparation for the trip.

That reputation may be why many others with connections to Washington D.C. and planning for the inauguration chose Eklund and his choir students. Playing with a Marine Corps band, Eklund said he was given the control to select two songs. “One Voice” by Robert Thurston using a military music arrangement is one of the two. Eklund said the lyrics to the piece have a theme of unity. The second selection will be a traditional version of “America the Beauitful.”

Eklund said the group will leave today and return Monday evening. Donations are paying for the group’s travel, lodging, transportation within Washington D.C. and all meals.

County singers Carrie Underwood and Lee Greenwood are also slated to perform during the inauguration. USA Today reported oepra singer Christopher Macchio will sing the national anthem.

Creston
John Van Nostrand

JOHN VAN NOSTRAND

An Iowa native, John's newspaper career has mostly been in small-town weeklies from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. He first stint in Creston was from 2002 to 2005.