The Bethany College Department of Music has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1935. Music has played a central role in the life of Bethany College since its foundation in 1881. Many world renowned artists have traveled to Lindsborg to perform and teach.
Bethany Oratorio Society boasts one of the longest running annual performances of Handel’s Messiah and has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, National Public Radio, and PBS. This rich tradition of musical excellence remains strong and vibrant to this very day.
At Bethany, music is for everyone, and students majoring in the sciences and humanities regularly benefit from the wide array of musical ensembles available, just as Bethany music majors benefit from pursuing their specialized studies within the context of a liberal arts environment.
Bethany music students study with many different career goals in mind. They gain the knowledge and experience to carry them successfully through graduate study and/or careers.
Majors
Instrumental Music Teaching PreK-12 B.M.E
Music
Music Performance
Vocal Music Teaching PreK-12 B.M.E.
Minors
Music
Contact
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Leah Ann Anderson began teaching at Bethany College in 2011. She in an Instructor of Voice, both principal and secondary emphasis.
Anderson earned the degree Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Wichita State University. While there she studied voice with Dr. Vernon Yenni, and Choral Conducting with Dr. René Clausen. Anderson earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Fontbonne University in St.Louis, Missouri, where she studied voice with Dr. Relford Patterson. Anderson’s first voice teacher was Dr. Elmer Copley at Bethany College.
Ms. Anderson was the Director of Choral Music for the Smoky Valley School District for many years. In 2007 she was named the Outstanding High School Music Educator for the South Central District of the Kansas Music Educators’ Association. Anderson is the director of the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Choir and the Smoky Valley Men’s Choir.
Ms. Anderson teaches private voice lessons, and is a frequent performer in the community as a soloist and participant in small vocal ensembles.
Anderson has two grown sons. She and her husband live in Lindsborg.
Academic Qualifications
Fontbonne University, St. Louis: Bachelor of Music
Wichita State University: Master of Music in Vocal Performance
Kansas State University: Master of Science in School Counseling
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Mrs. Bishop is an ’85 graduate of Bethany College in organ performance. She is a local piano teacher, accompanist, and church musician. She has experience as an organist for Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg, KS and has directed the children’s choir. Mrs. Bishop also accompanies the Bethany College Choir, the Chamber Choir, and vocal and instrumental students.
Academic Qualifications
Bethany College: Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance
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Andrew Book began teaching at Bethany in 2011. A native of Salina, Kansas, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wichita State in 2010 with a Bachelors Degree in Instrumental Music Education and Double Bass Performance. Besides teaching at Bethany he is currently the Salina Central High School Orchestra Director, a South Middle School General Music teacher, and instructor of Strings at Coronado, Cottonwood, Meadowlark, and Oakdale Elementary in Salina. Andrew performs with the Wichita Grand Opera, Salina Symphony, Hutchinson Symphony, Bethany/Lindsborg Orchestra, and the Perfect Fifth quintet.
At Wichita State, Book performed with the WSU Symphony Orchestra, WSU Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, WSU Music Theatre, and multiple chamber ensembles. In the spring of 2008 he was able to travel with the WSU Symphony to Zaragoza, Spain for a three-city concert tour. Book has also spent two summers in Victoria, British Columbia studying Double Bass with world-renowned soloist, Gary Karr. Andrew credits his love for teaching and performing to the amazing musicians he has studied with such as: Mark Foley, Eric Stein, Teresa Hernandez, Susan Higbee, Gary Monsanto, Doug Beyer, Catherine Consiglio, Jacquelyn Dillon, and Gary Karr.
Book is a member of the International Society of Bassists, Music Educators National Conference, Modern Music Masters Fraternity, Kansas National Educators Association, and the American String Teachers Association.
Academic Qualifications
Wichita State University: Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education
Wichita State University: Bachelor of Double Bass Performance
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Kendra Flory joined the Bethany College community in Fall 2012 as director of the Genesis Ringers. A McPherson, KS native, Flory earned her Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance from Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia, where she studied with Dr. John Barr. Flory has rung handbells for over 25 years. Her studies have included ensemble and solo instruction under Eunice Tarum, multiple advanced ensemble intensives under the direction of Dr. William Payne, and solo instruction under Christine Anderson and Nancy Hascall. Flory has engaged the handbell instrument through large and small ensembeles, solo work, directing, and teaching workshops.
Career highlights include a solo performance for the 2004 CBS Christmas Eve special and working with and performing for the Handglockenchor Hannover, Germany during the celebration of it’s 10th anniversary. Flory has rung in several notable community handbell choirs, including The Agape Ringers of Chicago and Circle City Ringers of Indianapolis. Flory currently directs the handbell program at the McPherson Church of the Brethren and enjoys ringing duets with her sister Janelle.
Academic Qualifications
Bridgewater College: Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance
Bethany Theological Seminary: Master of Divinity
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Stephanie Gerry, Soprano, is a native of Lincoln, Nebraska. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master of Music degree from Wichita State University. She has performed with UNL and WSU opera theatre programs, the Wichita Grand Opera, the Lincoln Sacred Arts Council,and was an apprentice artist with Dorian Opera Theatre. She also has an extensive music theatre and dance background, having performed with the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company,and, most recently,at theGreat Plains Theatre Festival.
In addition to being a teaching assistant at both the University of Nebraska and Wichita State, Mrs. Gerry has taught at a wide variety of age levels, including infants and toddlers for the Gymboree Play and Music programs and elementary school at Salina Christian Academy. She has also been a private piano and voice teacher for over 15 years.
Mrs. Gerry lives in Salina with her husband Matt who is music teacher at Salina South Middle School. They are the proud parents of 2 daughters, Adele and Lydia.
Academic Qualifications
University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Bachelor of Music
Wichita State University: Master of Music
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Richard Koshgarian’s orchestral experience began when he was accepted into the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at age 12. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from Rhode Island College and a Master of Music in Music Performance from the University of Michigan. After spending two years on the music faculty at Western Carolina University, he returned to The University of Michigan to study orchestral conducting and composition.
After winning a national audition for the position of Assistant Conductor of the National Orchestra of New York, Koshgarian conducted at Carnegie Hall and Columbia University, working with principal players from most of the world’s leading orchestras. He also had the opportunity to work with renowned conductors Zubin Mehta, Seija Ozawa, Leonard Bernstein, James Levine, and Kurt Masur.
In 1989, Koshgarian began work toward a doctorate degree in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Iowa. Upon completing course work, he was hired as Assistant Professor of Music at Fort Hays State University. In 1991 he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Iowa and moved to Salina where he serves as Orchestra Director at Bethany College, Music Director at Salina Community Theater and Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church.
Academic Qualifications
Rhode Island College: Bachelor of Music Performance
University of Michigan: Master of Music Performance
University of Iowa: Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting
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Kranzler holds a bachelor of music degree in education from Marymount College and a master of music degree in performance from FHSU. He also studied percussion symposium at East Carolina University and the University of Wisconsin. Kranzler has been teaching at Bethany College for over 25 years, and also serves as an instructor at Fort Hays State University, Kansas Wesleyan University, and Bethel College. Kranzler is a member of the Kansas Music Educators Association, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors and the National Drum Association.
Academic Qualifications
Marymount College: Bachelor of Music Education
Fort Hays State University: Master of Music in Percussion Performance
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Originally from Clearwater, KS, Courtney has been playing the saxophone for 15 years and piano for 20. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Saxophone Performance from Friends University in 2008, where she had many great performance opportunities, including Umbria Jazz Festival and Jazz a Juan. She then received her Master’s in Music Theory and Composition from WSU in 2010. Teaching privately now for about ten years, Courtney also composes music and holds an alto saxophone position in the Wichita Wind Ensemble Professional Band.
Academic Qualifactions
Wichita State University: Masters of Music in Theory and Composition
Friends University: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance
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Daniel J. Masterson, DMA, is an associate professor of music at Bethany College. He has also been the Billue-Burnett Distinguished Professor of Music since 2003.
Masterson joined the faculty at Bethany College in 2000. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois, a Master of Music from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Arts from McPherson College. At Bethany, he teaches piano, piano pedagogy and music theory. He is an active member of Kansas Music Teachers Association as the College Faculty Forum Chair.
Beyond his teaching, Masterson maintains an active schedule as a solo and collaborative artist. He has performed recitals in many central and southern states and has extensive experiences in accompanying for soloists and chamber ensembles. He brings additional versatility to the music department from his experience as a public educator, private teacher and church musician. He is regarded highly as teacher, clinician, adjudicator and director.
Academic Qualifiactions
University of Illinois: Doctor of Musical Arts, Piano performance
Wichita State University: Master of Music in Piano Performance
McPherson College: Bachelor of Arts in Music Education
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In addition to teaching at Bethany College, Scott Oakes also serves as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Wichita State University, Principal Bassoon of the Wichita Symphony, and Bassoonist of the Lieurance Woodwind Quintet. Previously, Mr. Oakes held positions of Principal Bassoon of the Quad City Symphony (Davenport, IA), the Rockford Symphony (IL), and was a member of both the Illinois Symphony and Illinois Philharmonic. Noted for his “smoky” bassoon tone and “grace and beauty,” Mr. Oakes has performed with numerous orchestras in the Chicago area and throughout the upper Midwest, including the Chicago Chamber Orchestra; the Symphonies of Green Bay, Elgin, Lake Forest, Northwest Indiana, and South Bend; the New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago; and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.
Scott performs with Wichita Grand Opera as Principal Bassoon, having previously performed for various opera companies including Opera Illinois, Des Moines Metro Opera, Elgin Opera, Chicago Cultural Center, and L’Opera Piccola of Chicago. An avid chamber musician, he has performed at a range of venues throughout the Chicago metro area, including the Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall and Gottlieb Hall. Other engagements have included performances with the Aspen Festival Orchestra and Chamber Symphony, Ravinia Festival, Southern Illinois Music Festival, and the Great Performers of Illinois festival in Millennium Park, Chicago.
Mr. Oakes holds a Master of Music degree from the DePaul University School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers were William Buchman of the Chicago Symphony and Dr. Donald DaGrade.
Academic Qualifications
DePaul University: Master of Music, Bassoon Performance
University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music: Bachelor of Music, Bassoon Performance
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Paula Patterson received her Bachelor’s degree in performance from the University of Iowa where she was a student of Betty and Roger Mather. She has done additional study with Dr. Frances Shelly of Wichita State University.
Patterson is Instructor of Flute at Bethany College. She has maintained a private teaching studio since 1979. She is currently principal flute with the Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra and the Bethany College Community Orchestra. She is a member of the woodwind trio, Trablas. She has served as clinician and adjudicator in the Central Kansas area.
Academic Qualifications
University of Iowa: Bachelors of Music
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Ann Samuelson received her Bachelor of Music Education degree and Kodaly certification from Indiana University and her Master of Music degree from the University of Connecticut. She has played professionally with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hartford Symphony as well as many other New England orchestras for over 30 years. She was the Concert Master of Musica Dolce, a chamber ensemble of Westerly, RI, and as such, was soloist and first violinist for the resident string quartet. She has previously taught in the Ohio and Connecticut public schools before raising a family. She has been part-time organist and Children’s Choir Director of her church in Connecticut before moving to Kansas.
Academic Qualifications
Indiana University School of Music: Bachelor of Music Education
University of Connecticut: Master of Music in Violin Performance
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Mrs. Simmelink began at Bethany College in the Fall of 2010. She teaches Pre-K and Elementary Music Methods for music education and regular education majors. In addition to her work at Bethany, Simmelink is an Early Childhood Music Specialist for the Early Childhood Center of the McPherson County Special Ed Cooperative. She is also on staff with the Wichita State University Kodály Program as the Level II Methods and Folk Song Research & Analysis instructor.
Mrs. Simmelink has been an elementary music specialist in Kansas for 9 years. She began her teaching career at Abilene Elementary in Valley Center, KS and has served as an instructor in the WSU Kodály Program since 2004. She is an active presenter in local, state and regional music education organizations and is currently serving as Past-President of Kodály Music Educators of Kansas, an organization which she cofounded. She is a Member-at-Large on the Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America board and was also the 2008 MKMEA Conference Chair.
Mrs. Simmelink graduated from Wichita State University with a Master of Music Education Elementary Emphasis in 2006. She received her Kodály Certificate from Colorado State University in 2005. Mrs. Simmelink completed her undergraduate studies at Bethany College in Vocal Performance and K-12 Choral Music Education.
Academic Qualifications
Wichita State University Wichita, KS Master of Music Education
Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO Kodály Certificate
Bethany College K-12 Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance
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Melody Turnquist-Steed is an assistant professor of music and co-chair of the Department of Music at Bethany College. Her responsibilities include teaching organ and music theory, as well as serving as the chapel organist and coordinator of sacred music.
A native Iowan, Steed received her bachelor’s degree in organ performance from the University of Northern Iowa and her master’s from the University of Cincinnati. Steed received her doctorate degree from the University of Southern California. She has studied organ with Marilou Kratzenstein, Jesse Eschbach, Roberta Gary and Cherry Rhodes.
Prior to her appointment at Bethany, Steed served as the organist at the prestigious Westwood United Methodist Church where she presided at the Shaffer Memorial Organ.
An active recitalist, she has been a featured performer at regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists. In January 2006, she was a featured soloist for the National Public Radio program Pipe Dreams Live!, performing Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 551.
Along with trumpeter Keith Benjamin, she performs in the trumpet/organ duo, Clarion. The duo has recorded two compact discs Clarion, New Music for Trumpet and Organ (1994), and New Vintage (2001). Steed has performed as an organ soloist and as a member of Clarion in both Hungary and Romania.
Academic Qualifications
University of Northern Iowa: Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance and Music Education
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music: Master of Music in Organ Performance
University of Southern California: Doctorate of Musical Arts in Organ Performance
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Jay Steinberg is a native of New Jersey who is currently in his 38th year of teaching in Lindsborg, Kansas. Steinberg received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bethany College and his Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance from Wichita State University. Steinberg has spent his entire career in Lindsborg (USD 400) as band director of grades 5-12. Presently, his teaching load consists of 5th and 6th grade band and 5th grade vocal music. Additionally, Steinberg is an instructor of Clarinet and Music History at Bethany College, has taught clarinet at Wichita State University and is currently on the staff of the High Plains Band Camp in Hays. His bands have performed at the KMEA In-Service Workshop in 1989 and 1994.
Steinberg is active, not only as an educator, but also as a performer. He has performed with the Bethany College Community Orchestra, Hutchinson Symphony, Trablas (his woodwind trio) and currently principal clarinet with the Salina Symphony. He also serves as a clinician and adjudicator throughout Kansas. Mr. Steinberg was awarded Middle School Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Music Dealers of America and in 2008 was named Outstanding Middle School Music Educator by the South Central District of KMEA. Professionally, Steinberg holds membership in MENC, KMEA, ICA and KNEA.
Steinberg is active in Lindsborg’s local Arts community and because of his love of chamber music, he is the coordinator of the chamber music at the Sandzen Gallery, bringing the best talent he can to the Smoky Valley district and community.
Web Site
http://www.trablas.com
Academic Qualifications
Bethany College: Bachelor of Arts
Wichita State University: Master of Music in Clarinet Performance
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Doug Talbott is the former Director of Bands at Bethany College were he directed the Symphonic Band, Brass Ensemble, Blue Dozen, Jazz Ensemble, was the Coordinator of the Music Education Program, and was Chair of the Fine Arts Division.
Doug previously taught in several Kansas public schools. In addition, he was Head of the Music Department at Butler County Community College in El Dorado. Doug received his B.M.E. from Bethany College and his M.M.E. from Fort Hays State University. He has done additional graduate work at Morehead State University and Wichita State University. Doug studied conducting with Lowell Burroughs of Bethany, Clarence Sawhill of UCLA, Al Wright of Purdue, and Lyle Dilley of Fort Hays State University.
Academic Qualifications
Bethany College: Bachelors of Music Education
Fort Hays State University:Masters of Music Education
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