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BETHANY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES 2021 MESSIAH FESTIVAL EVENTS
January 26, 2021
Join us for Messiah Festival of the Arts 2021: Celebrating Women in the Arts!
LINDSBORG, KAN., January 26, 2021 - Bethany College is pleased to announce the events for the 2021 Messiah Festival. All events will have Covid mitigation protocols implemented to ensure the safety of participants. At this time there are not plans to include live audiences. Instead, each event that is normally ticketed, as well as many others, will be livestreamed. If it becomes possible to include a live audience, a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event. Stay tuned to www.messiahfestival.org for updates.
Artistic Director, Dr. Mark Lucas, said, “At this time we are planning to perform Handel’s Messiah with full forces but masked and socially distanced. If the Covid situation does not improve we will pivot to a performance with a reduced number of performers. Also, this year’s rehearsal schedule will be drastically reduced from years past. Returning singers will only be required to attend 1 sectional rehearsal before the dress rehearsal on Sunday, March 21, and new singers will only have 1 extra rehearsal at which I will help give them instructions on how they can be learning the music on their own. We have yet to make a final decision as to whether or not we will perform Bach’s Passion according to St. Matthew.” According to Manda Deegan, Messiah Festival Coordinator, all singers will be provided with a special Resonance Singing Mask made of a very high thread-count cotton outer shell, with a wicking technical knit polyester on the inside, knit with bamboo charcoal that is naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. Each mask also has a disposable filter and a long double wire and silicone seal in the nose panel to keep aerosol and droplets contained.
See below for a full schedule of rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah as well as descriptions of each of the events of the festival. Please visit www.messiahfestival.org for even more details, and for information on the 2021 soloists.
Full schedule of rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah:
Sunday, February 14 – New singers only (those who have sung 1-3 years are invited to this rehearsal as well).
Sunday, February 21 - Sopranos only
Sunday, February 28 – Altos only
Sunday, March 7 – Tenors only
Sunday, March 14 – Basses only
Sunday, March 21 – Dress Rehearsal
*all rehearsals are in Presser Hall from 3-5 pm
Messiah Events:
March 5th – April 4th: Lindsborg Collects… Lindsborg Art in Downtown Lindsborg
The Lindsborg Collects Exhibition showcases the privately owned art collections of local residents with a focus on artists who have a Lindsborg or Bethany College connection. The show will be open at 105 N. Main Street in downtown Lindsborg from 1pm until 5pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
March 1st – May 23rd: 123rd Annual Midwest Art Exhibition at Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery
The 123rd annual Midwest Art Exhibition will feature works by Bethany College graduates Richard and Tom Klocke of Lawrence; mixed media woodcuts by Salina native Jim Sherraden of White Creeks, Tennessee; art by members of the Sandzén Gallery’s Show Committee (Cary Brinegar, Wayne Conyers, Maleta Forsberg, Michael Jilg, Elizabeth Liljegren, Ron Michael, Karla Prickett, and Rose Marie Wallen); and selections from the Dave Woolard Collection of Hays.
The gallery will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am until 5pm and on Sundays from 1pm until 5pm. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we will be unable to have an opening reception for the exhibition.
March 19th – April 4th: Juried Student Art Exhibition at Mingenback Art Center
The Department of Art and Digital Media at Bethany College will host a corridor exhibition at Mingenback Art Center of artwork created by local women art instructors alongside the traditional juried exhibition of artwork created by Bethany College students, judged by visual artist Ms. Ruth Moritz. An awards ceremony for the winning exhibiting art student work to be held after the A Celebration of Women in Leadership event ends on the Presser Auditorium stage on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021 with a small reception to follow.
Sunday, March 21st at 3pm: Messiah Dress Rehearsal featuring Student Soloists at Presser Hall Auditorium
Student Soloists from the Bethany College Department of Music will sing the arias as part of the annual dress rehearsal of Handel’s Messiah. This event will be livestreamed, and if the Covid situation allows a limited number of tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event. Watch www.messiahfestival.org for details.
Palm Sunday, March 28th at 3pm: A Celebration of Women in Leadership at Presser Hall Auditorium
This special event will feature prominent women in leadership who have a connection to Bethany College and/or Lindsborg, Kansas including Lindsborg Mayor Becky Anderson, Bethany College President Dr. Elizabeth Mauch, longtime Bethany College professor and women’s athletics coach Joyce Pigge, Bishop of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Susan Candea, and Kansas Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Zabel-Wilson. Also featured will be a special women’s chorus conducted by Mrs. Britney English, Vocal Music Teacher at Smoky Valley High School. Following the event there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the Alma Swensson Garden in Swensson Park just west of Presser Hall. This event will be livestreamed, and if the Covid situation allows a limited number of tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event. Watch http://www.MessiahFestival.org for details.
April 1st at 2:30pm: Student Honors Recital at Presser Hall Auditorium
The annual Messiah Festival of the Arts Student Honors Recital showcases the best music majors and minors of the Bethany College Music Department. This event will be livestreamed, and if the Covid situation allows a limited number of tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event. Watch www.messiahfestival.org for details.
Good Friday, April 2nd: To Be Determined
A decision has not yet been made whether to perform Bach’s Passion according to St. Matthew live or to rebroadcast an earlier performance. Watch www.MessiahFestival.org for a decision.
Easter Sunday, April 4th at 3pm: Handel’s Messiah at Presser Hall Auditorium
The Bethany Oratorio Society is planning a full performance of Handel’s Messiah on Easter Sunday with the full Oratorio Society Chorus and Orchestra. To facilitate social distancing the chorus and orchestra, who will all be wearing special singing masks, will be spread throughout the Presser Hall Auditorium. This event will be livestreamed, and if the Covid situation allows a limited number of tickets for balcony seating will be available at the door on the day of the event. Watch www.MessiahFestival.org for details.
Jazz Walk and Theatre Productions: Dates and Details to be determined
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 the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state. Find us online at www.bethanylb.edu.
LINDSBORG, KS. MAR. 28, 2025 — Bethany College raised $168,167.87 during its annual Giving Day campaign this year, with every dollar going directly to student scholarships. The support ensures more students can afford a Bethany education and take part in the life-changing opportunities that come with it. This year, the Bethany Backers campaign ran separately. Combined, both efforts brought in a total of over $240,000, surpassing last year’s collective giving total and underscoring the strong support from the Bethany and Lindsborg community. “Both Giving Day and the Bethany Backers campaign have been an incredible success,” said Hayley Samford, Director of Alumni Development and Engagement. “We are incredibly grateful for the continued generosity of our alumni, friends, and supporters. We’re excited to use these funds to support the students who are here now—and those who will be joining the Bethany family soon.” If you are interested in giving and supporting Bethany College’s mission, please click here . Bethany College is a liberal arts institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas, and was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For over 140 years, Bethany has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
LINDSBORG, KS. MAR. 27, 2025 — Students in Professor James Baker’s Elementary Social Studies Methods class had a unique opportunity to hear from distinguished guest speakers, the Honorable John Carlin and Bethany College alumnus Ryon Carey '95, during a recent session focused on history, government, and education. The event brought together students from both Professor Baker’s course and Dr. Rana Razek’s class for an engaging discussion on the branches of government, the role of the U.S. Department of Education, and the importance of civic understanding in the classroom. Governor Carlin, who also served as the Archivist of the United States following his tenure as Kansas Governor, offered students a personal perspective on his career in public service and shared insights into the responsibilities of preserving key national documents such as the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His reflections underscored the value of historical records in shaping democracy and educating future generations. Ryon Carey, a 1995 Bethany graduate, also contributed to the discussion, offering his perspective on leadership and public service. “It was a privilege to welcome Governor Carlin and Ryon Carey to speak with our students,” said Professor James Baker. “Opportunities like this deepen our students’ understanding of the material and remind us all of the importance of connecting real-world experience to classroom learning. I’m incredibly grateful to both of our speakers for sharing their time and insights.” You can learn more about our Education Department at bethanylb.edu/education . Bethany College is a liberal arts institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas, and was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For over 140 years, Bethany has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
LINDSBORG, KS. MAR. 25, 2025 — Bethany Backers has achieved its most successful fundraising effort to date, raising more than $72,000—more than double any previous year’s total. Thanks to the generosity of over 200 donors, these funds will directly enhance the student experience at Bethany College. Each year, Bethany Backers selects a project based on student suggestions, with donations traditionally starting at $50. A portion of the funds raised also supports student scholarships. Past projects have included creating a mock courtroom for criminal justice students, adding additional seating in campus greenspaces, and purchasing games for common areas. The first project funded by this record-breaking total will be the purchase of new cardio equipment for the college’s fitness center, providing students with upgraded resources to support their health and wellness. Additionally, because of the unprecedented amount raised, Bethany Backers will be able to complete a second project, which will be determined through a vote among this year’s donors. “On behalf of the Bethany College Alumni Association, I want to extend my enthusiastic gratitude to every Bethany Backer who contributed to the 2025 “Swedes Around The World” campaign,” said Olivia Peterson, President of the Bethany College Alumni Association and a 2013 graduate. “This year marked our most ambitious project yet, and our alumni and friends exceeded our goals! Not only will this effort provide upgraded training tools for our student-athletes but, most importantly, it will encourage and motivate all students to move their bodies!” Peterson continued, “I especially want to thank Kelly and Alan Clayton for the generous $10,000 matching grant opportunity and Angie Gaeddert for her wonderful $25,000 gift in honor of her late husband, Dr. Wade Gaeddert. Their generosity inspired others to give and helped us fund the project in full. I am humbled by the collective spirit and commitment of our community. Bethany has shaped us all—and now, we’re ensuring that future generations of Swedes have access to the same transformative experiences. The future is bright, friends! Tusen täck!” The goal is to have both projects ready to launch when students return to campus this fall. Bethany Backers extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed, making this milestone achievement possible. For more information about Alumni projects and how to get involved, visit bethanylb.edu/alumni Bethany College is a liberal arts institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas, and was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For over 140 years, Bethany has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.