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JURIED STUDENT ART EXHIBITION TO START MARCH 16 AS PART OF MESSIAH FESTIVAL
March 9, 2020
LINDSBORG, KAN., March 9, 2020 – The annual Bethany College Messiah Festival Juried Student Art Exhibition starts March 16, 2020 and will continue through April 17, in the Mingenback Art Center gallery on the corner of Olsson and Second Street on the Bethany College campus. The show will exhibit local women artists from the Sandzen Collection as well as Bethany College students.
Featured works for this year’s student exhibition were chosen by juror, Valerie Haring. Valerie is a life-long Kansan and currently the chair of the Art Department at Butler Community College, where she attended as an undergraduate and has taught for nearly 30 years. She earned her BSE from Emporia State University and an MA from Wichita State University. Valerie is a painter who also creates assemblages, sculpture, photography, and digital prints. She traces her interest in art from her childhood, where she loved to “find” objects and assemble odds-and-ends into artistic creations. In her current work Valerie utilizes a striped composition and her intellectual, personal, and artistic discoveries are manifest in the artwork she makes.
Works may be submitted by any student, so long as the work was created since the last Messiah Exhibition. Work can be submitted for 2D, 3D, Design/Photography, or Digital Arts categories. Juror, Valerie Haring, chose works based on what she considered to be a good fit for this exhibition, and selected art works from the following students:
Marcus Ruiz Austin, TX Senior
Lydia Nicholoson Hesston, KS Senior
Jeannette Crossno Hutchinson, KS Senior
Katherine Fowler Spearville, KS Senior
Zephra Rice McPherson, KS Sophomore
Halle Giddings McPherson, KS Sophomore
Keri Woodburn Wichita, KS Senior
Antonia Waggoner Salina, KS Freshman
Rebekah Roach Melvern, KS Senior
Emerald McGlashan Wellington, New Zealand Junior
David Williams Lee Summit, MO Junior
Trevor Kemp El Dorado, KS Senior
Hailey Snyder Sterling, NE Freshman
Indigo Guise Salina, KS Freshman
Hannah Brandl Tribune, KS Sophomore
Best of Show will be awarded to Katherine Fowler, for Branch Teapot and Best of 2D to Lydia Nicholson, for Frog Melody. The Best of 3D award will go to Zephra Rice, for Rainforest Tea Set. Several other awards will be announced at the Juried Student Art Exhibition awards ceremony reception at 4:30 pm, April 5 at the Mingenback Art Center gallery.
The Juried Student Art Exhibition is part of the Messiah Festival of the Arts, the celebration of sacred music, theatre and art at Bethany College. 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.
LINDSBORG, KAN., FEB. 5, 2025 — The Bethany Oratorio Society is excited to announce the soloists for the 2025 Messiah Festival of the Arts. Since its founding in 1882, the Oratorio Society has performed Bach’s The Passion According to St. Matthew and Handel’s Messiah every year, and this year’s festival promises another spectacular celebration of these works. Featured soloists for this year’s performances include Claire Herzog, coloratura soprano; Michelle Rice, soprano; Maxwell Ary, tenor; and Ian Schipper, bass-baritone. These talented artists will bring their expertise and passion to the stage in performances of The Passion According to St. Matthew and the Messiah. Additionally, these soloists will perform a free recital at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025 , at Messiah Lutheran Church on the campus of Bethany College. They will also perform at the ticketed events: The Passion According to St. Matthew at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and Handel’s Messiah at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in Presser Hall Auditorium. Tickets for these performances can be purchased at messiahfestival.org or by calling Bethany College at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8235, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Claire Herzog, Coloratura Soprano A versatile coloratura soprano from Springfield, Missouri, Claire Herzog is equally passionate about teaching and performing. She has appeared in operatic roles with the Ozarks Lyric Opera and is an active performer with various choral groups. Herzog holds degrees from Missouri State University and is currently on the vocal music faculty at Evangel University. In addition to her vocal expertise, she enjoys composing and collaborating with other musicians, with recent projects including an album of original songs and Heart on the Wall performances with the Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra. Michelle Rice, Soprano Praised for her “tones of pure gold” (Washington Post), Michelle Rice brings a rich timbre and intense performance to the stage. Throughout her career, Rice has performed a wide range of roles, including Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde and Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw. As the Artistic Director of Seven Sisters Productions, she has premiered new works, including the opera The Queen, My Lord, Is Dead. Rice’s performances span opera, concert, and recital, and she has sung with major ensembles across the U.S., including the Berkeley Symphony and Washington Concert Opera. Maxwell Ary, Tenor A versatile performer and educator based in San Francisco, Maxwell Ary is renowned for his wide-ranging voice, which spans genres from classical to jazz, musical theatre, and pop. Ary, who teaches at the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, has performed with prestigious ensembles, including Seraphic Fire and Voces8. He has appeared in operas such as The Rake’s Progress, L’elisir d’amore, and recently performed in the baroque opera La Flora with Ars Minerva. Ary’s 2025 performance schedule includes Lamplighters Musical Theater and Pocket Opera engagements. Ian Schipper, Bass-Baritone A dynamic performer known for his commitment to classical and contemporary music, Ian Schipper has appeared in operas such as Die Zauberflöte and Cosi fan tutte. He has sung in choral groups across the U.S., including the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Schipper is also passionate about new music and has collaborated with composers through his work with St. Olaf College’s Spiritus Novus. He recently performed the role of Cardinal Rottweiler in the world premiere of The Grand Hotel Tartarus. Join us for these unforgettable performances as these talented soloists join the Bethany Oratorio Society in bringing two of the most cherished works in the choral repertoire to life. For more information, including ticket purchases, please visit 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. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who walk alongside them as they discover, explore, and navigate the path to their purpose. Bethany College is online at bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College hosted over 500 young men from nearly 40 schools across Kansas on Jan. 30 for the annual Real Men Sing vocal workshop. This celebrated event provides an inspiring opportunity for students in grades 4-12 to explore choral music in a supportive, all-male setting, fostering confidence, camaraderie, and a love for singing.
This semester, the department continues its tradition of offering a wide variety of performances, from student and faculty recitals to large-scale ensemble concerts. These events provide opportunities for the Lindsborg community and surrounding areas to experience the vibrant cultural and artistic contributions of the college.