Bethany College proudly announces the 2023 Messiah Festival of the Arts on March 27-April 10. The festival will include an awards reception, lectures, recitals, and other free events celebrating the college’s annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah.”
The Juried Student Art Exhibition will run from March 27-April 10 in Mingenback Art Center on the college’s campus. An awards reception will be held on Palm Sunday, April 2, at 2 pm.
On Monday, April 3 at 7 pm, Mark Lucas, Associate Professor of Music, Artistic Director, and Conductor of the Messiah Festival of the Arts, will present ‘Chasing History: A Conversation about the Many Editions of Handel’s “Messiah”‘ at Pearson Chapel. Concurrent with this presentation will be an event for children ages 4-12. “Chalk Talk for Kids: The Lord is My Shepherd,” by Shelly Carlson, will be held in the Mabee Welcome Center for parents attending “Chasing History.” Please RSVP to Carol Gusenius at guseniusc@gmail.com to reserve space.
The Messiah Festival Soloists will also present a recital on Tuesday, April 4, at 7:30 pm at Messiah Lutheran Church Sanctuary. The soloists are Julianne Davis, soprano; JoAna Rusche, mezzo-soprano; Gene Stenger, tenor; and Nicholas Skotzko, baritone. A reception will follow at the Sandzen Art Gallery.
The Messiah Festival Student Honors Recital will be held on Thursday, April 6, at 2:30 pm in the Pearson Chapel, to showcase selected student performers from the Bethany College Music Department. Performers will include Gracelyn Gaskill, soprano; Raleigh Jarrett, violin; Christian LaCount, tenor; Grace Ladner, organ; Nikolas Lampman Thompson, guitar; Aubrey Larson, mezzo-soprano; Ariana Nunez, french horn; Keely Tubbs, soprano; and Justin Woolsey, percussion.
For more information on the festival and the accompanying events, 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 on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
