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Bethany College Choir
"After hearing the Bethany College Choir, I can say that Lindsborg is choral country."~Philip Brunelle
The Bethany College Choir, under the direction of Dr. Daniel A. Mahraun, represents nearly all disciplines on campus. Founded in February 1935 by Dr. Hagbard Brase to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Bethany College Choir has established a distinguished reputation. Since its first tour of the Midwest in 1937, the Choir has performed over 500 concerts in 29 states and 4 European countries, including its New York debut at Alice Tully Hall under Dr. Elmer Copley. Its sixth European tour will take place in 2008. The Choir has sung under the batons of John Rutter and Eskil Hemberg, has participated in master classes with Chanticleer and The Real Group, and recently performed in concert with renowned Swedish baritone Håkan Hagegård. During the school year, the Choir is heard on campus in Jultide at Bethany, the musical offering that has become the beginning of the Christmas season for devoted audiences each December. The Choir is also an integral part of the internationally-known Messiah Festival held each spring during Holy Week. The Choir, whose members are selected by audition, sings sacred choral music from all historical periods and styles.
Recent College Choir Repertoire
Bethany College Oratorio Society
Founded in 1881, the Bethany College Oratorio Society is one of the oldest and most distinguished choral societies in the Midwest. Every year since its founding, central Kansans of all ages have gathered in Lindsborg to prepare Handel’s Messiah for multiple performances during Holy Week. Under the leadership of Hagbard Brase, the Oratorio Society added Bach’s Passion According to St. Matthew in 1929 to their annual Messiah Festival performances. During the first decade of this century, several national magazines carried feature stories about the Messiah Festival. This exposure prompted a demand for excursion trains to the annual performances. Today, large audiences still travel to Lindsborg to participate in the Messiah Festival. Reader's Digest magazine described the Festival as "the Oberammergau of the Plains." Performances are carried each year by a radio network that includes over a dozen regional stations. Live concert telecasts and special feature stories have also been carried nationwide via satellite on most of the country's public television stations. In addition, national and regional television features on the Oratorio Society have aired on ABC-TV and the CBS-TV "Sunday Morning" program. The ensemble is conducted by Dr. Daniel Mahraun, the 24th conductor in the Society’s 125-year history.
Chapel Choir
Chapel Choir, an ensemble of 25 voices, seeks to create beauty in the choral art through concert performances and active participation in the worship life of the College community and Lindsborg region. No audition is required for admission. Chapel Choir rehearses three times each week and performs a wide range of sacred and secular choral literature.
Bethany Chamber Choir
The Bethany College Chamber Choir, an ensemble of 4-12 voices, performs a wide variety of secular music from traditional works to world music and vocal jazz. It is comprised of the most skilled members of the College Choir, Bethany’s largest auditioned choral ensemble. The Chamber Choir performs several times throughout the year on campus, as well as at off-campus college functions. The ensemble is coached by Dr. Daniel Mahraun, Director of Choral Activities.
Bethany College Oratorio Society
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