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The Path to Your Purpose
BETHANY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES STUDENT SOLOISTS FOR MESSIAH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS & OTHER EVENTS
Feb 27, 2020
LINDSBORG, KAN., February 26, 2020—Each year students from the Bethany Oratorio Society are selected to perform solos during dress rehearsal for Handel’s “Messiah,” the highlight of the annual Messiah Festival of the held at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. The dress rehearsal featuring the student soloists will be on Sunday, March 29, at 3pm, in Presser Hall on Bethany’s campus.
This year 17 students were selected for this honor, including:
Seniors: Brody Nicholas, tenor, Hoisington, Mackinze Smith, alto, Leavenworth, Kansas, Masen Bosworth, tenor, Alma, Kansas, Michael Baker, tenor, Minneapolis, Kansas;
Juniors: Brett Baldwin, bass, Garden City, Kansas, Katelyn Zuercher, alto, Salina, Kansas, Jackson Figgs, bass, Liberal, Kansas, Matthew Eades, bass, Great Bend, Kansas, Abigail Rishel-Barnett, alto, Lindsborg, Kansas;
Sophomores: Maya Herrera, bass, Brighton, Colorado, Elaina Bergquist, soprano, Newton, Kansas, Aubrey Hahn, alto, Garden City, Kansas, Alexandra Ried, soprano, Paola, Kansas, Lauren Gragg, soprano, Minneapolis, Kansas, Elise Nelson, soprano, Lindsborg, Kansas;
The rehearsal is free and open to the public. Every year since 1882, the Bethany Oratorio Society has presented Messiah at the college. The society has performed Messiah across the plains, in Carnegie Hall, and on national television. For a full listing of special events and exhibits during the Messiah Festival of the Arts, visit www.messiahfestival.org.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
This year 17 students were selected for this honor, including:
Seniors: Brody Nicholas, tenor, Hoisington, Mackinze Smith, alto, Leavenworth, Kansas, Masen Bosworth, tenor, Alma, Kansas, Michael Baker, tenor, Minneapolis, Kansas;
Juniors: Brett Baldwin, bass, Garden City, Kansas, Katelyn Zuercher, alto, Salina, Kansas, Jackson Figgs, bass, Liberal, Kansas, Matthew Eades, bass, Great Bend, Kansas, Abigail Rishel-Barnett, alto, Lindsborg, Kansas;
Sophomores: Maya Herrera, bass, Brighton, Colorado, Elaina Bergquist, soprano, Newton, Kansas, Aubrey Hahn, alto, Garden City, Kansas, Alexandra Ried, soprano, Paola, Kansas, Lauren Gragg, soprano, Minneapolis, Kansas, Elise Nelson, soprano, Lindsborg, Kansas;
The rehearsal is free and open to the public. Every year since 1882, the Bethany Oratorio Society has presented Messiah at the college. The society has performed Messiah across the plains, in Carnegie Hall, and on national television. For a full listing of special events and exhibits during the Messiah Festival of the Arts, visit www.messiahfestival.org.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College conferred degrees upon 99 students in Presser Hall Auditorium on April 27, 2024. The ceremony honored students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education from the college during the 2023-2024 academic year. Summer, fall, and spring graduates were honored during a Baccalaureate worship service at 10:30 a.m. in Presser Hall, followed by Commencement at 2 p.m. Campus Pastor Melissa Woeppel led the Baccalaureate Service, and Rev. Lamont Wells, Executive Director of the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Co llege and Universities (NECU). Gracelyn Gaskill '24, a chemistry and music major from Lindsborg, Kansas, provided special music for Commencement. Senior class speakers Inioluwa "Enoch" Ojo '24, a biology major from Katy, Texas, and Benjamin "Ben" Turner '24, a History and Political Science Major from Peyton, Colorado, gave thoughtful remarks on their time at Bethany College, taking time to thank their friends, faculty, and coaches. Dr. Brent Mai '85, Dean of University Libraries at Wichita State University, gave the commencement address, encouraging this year's graduates to go out into the world and exercise the four tenets of stoicism: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
Interim President Steve Eckman commended the efforts of the faculty and staff in securing the grant, stating, "We are immensely grateful to the McPherson County Community Foundation for their incredible generosity. This grant will benefit our students and enrich the educational experiences available in the Smoky Valley community."
The newly appointed Presidential Search Committee will commence their work immediately, aiming to recommend a candidate for Bethany College's 16th president to the board by the April 2025 board meeting.