Bemidji Choir spring tour begins March 21

Bemidji State University’s Bemidji Choir and Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. P. Bradley Logan, professor of music, begins its 2013 spring concert tour on March 21.

The four-stop tour includes daytime concerts and workshops at high schools, followed by public concerts in the evenings, culminating with a home concert in Bemidji on March 24. This year’s tour dates are:

• March 21: Roseville, Minn., 7:30 p.m., at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 1660 W. County Road B.
• March 22: Monticello, Minn., 7:30 p.m., at Monticello Senior High School, 5225 School Blvd.
• March 23: Crosby, Minn., 12:30 p.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 617 Poplar St.
• March 24: 3 p.m., Main Theatre, Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, Bemidji State University.

All four public concerts are open free to the public. A free-will offering will be collected at each stop for those interested in helping defray the group’s tour expenses.

In addition to the public concerts, high school concerts and workshops will be held at Grand Rapids High School; Hibbing High School; Duluth East High School; and St. Michael’s / Albertville High School.

Logan directs choral activities at Bemidji State. In addition to conducting the Bemidji Choir and Chamber Singers, he teaches conducting, choral studies and applied voice. Before joining the faculty at BSU, he spent time at the University of Montevallo, Louisiana College, California State University Long Beach and Pelham High School. Logan earned his bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from North Dakota State University, a master’s in choral music from Cal State Long Beach and holds a doctorate in choral conducting and literature from the University of Illinois.

He made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting René Clausen’s “a new Creation” in 2002, conducted the BSU Chamber Singers on Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” in 2003 and served as conductor of the Röthenberg Choral Festival in Röthenberg, Germany, in 2005. He is the executor of the Edwin R. Fissinger Musical Estate and serves as co-editor of the Edwin Fissinger Choral Series published by Meadowlark Music Publications. Dr. Logan has been an active teacher of voice for 30 years. His studio has produced numerous winners of state and division National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions and prepared students for graduate study at leading conservatories in the United States.

The Bemidji Choir
The Bemidji Choir was founded founded in 1937 by Carl O. Thompson and has gained an international reputation for excellence. The choir has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe and has produced Bemidji State’s Madrigal Dinners for each of that production’s 44 years. Logan has directed the choir since 1998, leading choir performances at a number of conventions and at Carnegie Hall. Logan also has led the choir on tours in Europe, including performances in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Scotland, Switzerland and England.

The Chamber Singers
The Chamber Singers is an ensemble of fifteen singers chosen by audition from the membership of The Bemidji Choir. They specialize in literature for small choirs, such as English carols, renaissance madrigals and chansons and a wide variety of contemporary works. During fall semester the Chamber Singers serve as the Royal Court for BSU’s annual Madrigal Dinners.

For more information about the Bemidji Choir and Chamber Singers spring tour, contact the Bemidji State University Department of Music, (218) 755-2915.