The Ernst Family is a vocal ensemble consisting of nine members, aged nine to adult, singing everything from solos to eight-part harmony.  We perform Renaissance, classical, traditional sacred, black spiritual, and folk music.  Most of the music is sung a cappella, with an occasional piano or guitar accompaniment.  The genetic similarity of the voices gives a harmonious blend rare in unrelated voices.

The ensemble currently consists of parents Gregg (bass) and Jennie (mezzo), and children Joshua 23 (tenor), John 21 (tenor), Peter 18 (baritone), Elijah 17 (bass), Eva 15 (alto), Ruth 12 (soprano), and Esther 10 (alto).  The family lives on a farm on First Peninsula, just outside of the beautiful town of Lunenburg, NS, Canada.  Six year old Nathan and four year old Samuel wait in the wings to take their places in this group.

The family started singing after Joshua’s voice changed in 2001.  With four part harmony now possible, Jennie thought it would be fun to work on a bit of choral singing.  Positive audience response convinced us that our singing should be shared, and we have since performed for national television programs and toured the Maritimes, eastern US, and Ontario.  Our first CD, For the Heart, was released in 2004.  Two more CDs, Give Me Jesus and A Touch of Folk, were released in the fall of 2007.

The Ernsts have become known for a variety of other endeavours as well.  Gregg is a blacksmith, and it was at his shop that the ironwork for the Bluenose and Bluenose II, depicted on the Canadian dime, was forged.  Joshua is following in his father’s footsteps.  Gregg has also received international recognition as a strength athlete.  He competed in “The World’s Strongest Man” competitions in 1990 and 1991, and still holds the official world record for the most weight lifted by a man, at 5340 lbs.  Jennie is well known to Nova Scotian home schoolers, having chaired the provincial association for a number of years and represented it in legal negotiations with the provincial government.

Former group members: Marja Ernst (soprano) 22