Five BSU groups to perform in Fall Festival choir concert

BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University presents its annual Fall Festival Choir Concert, showcasing five choral ensembles, at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 2 in the Main Theatre of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and free to all students.

Performing will be the Bemidji Choir, Chamber Singers, Dammenstimmen, Musikanten and Varsity Singers.

Concert repertoire is varied from sacred music of the renaissance to contemporary selections.

Varsity Singers
The Varsity Singers under the direction of Patricia Mason, adjunct instructor of music, will sing four pieces opening with the “Si Vis Amari” by Jerry Estes and concluding with Mary Lynn Lightfoot’s contemporary “Hodie! Alleluia!” Katie Thies of East Bethel will provide piano accompaniment.

Dammenstimmen
The women’s chorus, Dammenstimmen, directed by Danielle Stadick, senior music education major from Beulah, N.D., will sing Daniel Gawthrop’s “These is Sweet Music.” Staddick in her second year as director also serves as Bemidji Choir manager.

Musikanten
MusiKanten, a men’s chorus, is formed under the leadership of the choir officers with members selected from the Bemidji Choir. Co-directors of MusiKanten are Joe Colago, senior music education major of Sisseton, S.D. and tenor section leader for the Bemidji Choir, and Chris Ramage, senior music education major of Rochester and former bass section leader for the Bemidji Choir. The men will sing three pieces including “Shenandoah” featuring tenor soloists Jordan Kiffmeyer of Clear Lake, and Tony Tammaro of Kabekona. Ramage is in his third year as co-director of MusiKanten. He is also a student director for the Chamber Singers.

Chamber Singers
The Chamber Singers, who serve as the Royal Court for the annual Madrigal Dinners, will sing four pieces, including “If Ye Love Me” by Thomas Tallis and “Weep, O Mine Eyes” by John Bennet. The Chamber Singers is an auditioned ensemble under the direction of Dr. Bradley Logan, department chair and professor of choral music, with assistance from Ramage.

Bemidji Choir
Under the direction of Logan, the Bemidji Choir will open with four sacred pieces including Jacob Handl’s “O Magnum Mysterium” followed by a selection of pieces written by twentieth century composers, including “Songs from Twelfth Night” by Kenneth Neufeld. Performing solos will be baritone Jake Kaehne of Bemidji in “A Spotless Rose,” soprano Laura Iverson of Eagan in “Peace I Leave with You” and soprano Ashley Bremseth of Fergus Falls in “Plenty Good Room.” 

For more information, please call the Department of Music at (218) 755-2915.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Nov. 2 – 3 p.m. – Annual Fall Festival Choir Concert presented by Bemidji State University. Location: Main Theatre of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, BSU campus: Admission: $5 adults, $3 senior citizens, free to all students. Information: (218) 755-2915.