BETHANY COL L EG E
Your
Musical Life
College Choir The College Choir represents nearly all disciplines on campus. Beginning with its first tour of the Midwest in 1937, the Choir has performed over 500 concerts in 29 states and five European countries, including its New York debut at Alice Tully Hall under Dr. Elmer Copley. 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 internationallyÂknown Messiah Festival of the Arts held each spring during Holy Week. The choir, whose members are selected by audition, sings sacred choral music from all historical periods and styles.
Chamber Choir The Chamber Choir, an ensemble of 12-15 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. This group performs several times throughout the year on campus, as well as at off-campus college functions.
Handbell Choirs Bethany College handbell program is comprised of two groups, the Handbell Ensemble, which is an auditioned ensemble open to students across campus, and the Genesis Ringers, which is open to students who have minimal ringing experience. Both groups perform at a variety of events on and off campus.
Blue Dozen Pep Band The Blue Dozen is the traditional name for the Bethany Pep Band. The group performs at school spirit functions, and at home football and selected basketball games.
Chamber Orchestra The Chamber Orchestra consists mainly of strings but is occasionally augmented by winds. This ensemble explores repertoire spanning several centuries and is expected to perform twice each year. Many opportunities for solo playing exist in this ensemble.
Jazz Band This ensemble performs many styles of jazz and gives several performances each semester. Featuring faculty and student soloists, the group is also in constant demand for informal gigs in the Lindsborg area.
String Quartet The Bethany College String Quartet is the premiere and most highly visible string ensemble. Some travel on weekends is required. Repertoire will cover standard quartet literature, church music, and even gig music. The possibility of earning money is a major incentive as well!
Chapel Choir The 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.
Successful Bethany Grad Brandon Draper ’01 has a master of music with distinction from the University of New Mexico. He has enjoyed a celebrated career as a drummer, percussionist, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator. In addition to freelancing and teaching, he currently performs as a solo artist and multi-instrumentalist with the Turkish jazz ensemble, Alaturka. He plays guitar with his father in The Draper Family Band, and runs the acclaimed children’s interactive music program Drum Safari with his wife Teryn. Drum Safari was selected to be the Kennedy CenterChanging Education Through the Arts Teaching Artist in 2014. Jointly, Brandon
and Teryn run Looking Up Productions, Inc., which handles Drum Safari and Brandon’s professional career. Brandon is on the music faculty at the University of Kansas, where he teaches jazz drums, world percussion, and music business/entrepreneurship and outreach. He has performed at many festivals (including the Messiah Festival of the Arts at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS), universities, concert halls, and conventions in the United States. He has taught at the University of New Mexico, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and multiple high schools throughout the Midwest and Southwest as a clinician and marching percussion consultant.
Next Steps Scholarships are available for all of these music programs at Bethany College, regardless of your academic major. We encourage you to apply, then send your transcripts and test scores to be accepted. We also encourage you to visit campus for a music portfolio review to further discuss your potential music scholarship and start your journey as a Bethany Swede.
Follow us!
@SwedeAdmissions @BethanyNews @BethanySwedes
BethanyCollegeKS
@SwedeAdmissions