Festival Events

2020 Messiah Festival of the Arts
Calendar of Events

March 29 – May 31
122nd Annual Midwest Art Exhibition, 10am-5pm @ Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery
MODIFICATION:
Because of COVID-19, the Sandzen Gallery closed, March 18, 2020, and plans to reopen on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, (subject to change) As a result, Opening reception planned for Sunday, March 29, 2020 will be postponed and instead be a closing reception on Sunday, May 31, 2020, from 2 to 4, with exhibition talks at 2:30. The exhibitions feature works by Steve Scott, Fern Cole, James Mages and Selected women artists from the Gallery’s permanent collection.

March 29
Messiah Dress Rehearsal featuring student soloists, 3pm @ Presser Hall Auditorium
CANCELLED

March 16 – April 17
Juried Student Art Exhibition @ Mingenback Art Center
MODIFICATION:
The award ceremony for the artworks selected will be in the Mingenback Art Gallery April 5, at 4:30 pm for on-campus students only.

April 2
Fine Arts Preview Day
Band Concert, 1:30 PM @ Presser Hall Auditorium
Art and Digital Media Arts
MODIFICATION:
The band concert is postponed to Thursday, October 15, 2020 and will be modified to a jazz band concert. There is a tentative performance of “Little Women: The Broadway Musical” scheduled for the evening of October 15, pending approval by Music Theatre International.

April 3
*”Little Women: The Broadway Musical,” 7:30 PM @ Burnett Center
The Bethany College Theatre Department will partner with Lindsborg’s Broadway R.F.D. for this special presentation.
Tickets: $15 adults, $7 students — general admission
MODIFICATIONS PENDING:
Tentative performances of “Little Women: The Broadway Musical” are planned for Thursday, October 15 @ 7:30 pm, Friday, October 16 @ 7:30 pm and Saturday, October 17 @ 2:00 pm, in Burnett Center. These performances are pending approval by Music Theatre International.

April 4
*”Little Women: The Broadway Musical,” 2:00 PM @ Burnett Center
The Bethany College Theatre Department will partner with Lindsborg’s Broadway R.F.D. for this special presentation.
Tickets: $15 adults, $7 students — general admission
MODIFICATIONS PENDING:
Tentative performances of “Little Women: The Broadway Musical” are planned for Thursday, October 15 @ 7:30 pm, Friday, October 16 @ 7:30 pm and Saturday, October 17 @ 2:00 pm, in Burnett Center. These performances are pending approval by Music Theatre International.

April 4
Maker’s Street, 5-8 PM @ Downtown Lindsborg
POSTPONED TO: Saturday, October 17, 2020, 5-8 PM @ Downtown Lindsborg.

April 4
Landmark Concert Series – Jazz Walk, 7 PM @ Downtown Lindsborg
The Messiah Festival will partner with the Lindsborg Landmark Concert series starting with the Jazz Walk that will take place on Saturday, April 4, at 7pm starting in historic downtown Lindsborg, featuring different locations on Main Street and ending at the J.O. Sundstrom building on the corner of Lincoln and Main. From blues to world music, the audience will be treated to a wide variety of styles of jazz that complement the unique locations throughout the walk.
POSTPONED TO: Saturday, October 17, 2020, 7 PM @ Downtown Lindsborg.

April 5 (Palm Sunday)
*”A Celebration of Women in Leadership,” 3:00 PM @ Bethany Lutheran Church
This special Palm Sunday event will feature special guest speakers and highlight important women throughout the history of the Smoky Valley, including Alma Swensson, wife of the founder of Bethany College and one of the first to teach the people of the Smoky Valley Handel’s “Messiah.” Other speakers include Lindsborg Mayor Becky Anderson, Bethany College President Dr. Elizabeth Mauch, Bishop of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Susan Candea, and recently sworn in Kansas Supreme Court Justice, Evelyn Zabel-Wilson.
This event will also feature a 100-voice women’s chorus directed by Mrs. Britney English, vocal music teacher at Smoky Valley High School. Seating is limited!
Following the 3 pm presentation, all attendees are invited to attend a special ceremony at nearby (walking distance) Swensson Park to commemorate the groundbreaking of Alma Swensson Gardens.
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students — general admission
POSTPONED TO: Sunday, October 18, 2020. This event will feature keynote speaker, Kansas Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Zabel-Wilson, a graduate of Bethany College, as well as Susan Candea, Bishop of the Central States Synod of the E.L.C.A. and other important local women. Also featured will be a 100 voice women’s chorus under the direction of Mrs. Britney English. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students — general admission
Juried Student Art Exhibition Award Ceremony, 4 PM @ Swensson Park
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the art department will honor students receiving best of show, best of two-dimensional, and best of three-dimensional artwork awards. This will be followed by a reception in Mingenback Art Gallery featuring artwork from local women artists in the Lindsborg area.
Juried Student Art Exhibition Closing Reception, 4:30 PM @ Mingenback Art Center

April 7
Recital featuring Messiah Soloists, 7:30 PM @ Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
This event is CANCELLED.

April 9
Student Honors Recital, 2:30 PM @ Pearson Chapel
POSTPONED TO: Thursday, October 15, 2:30 pm, Pearson Chapel, Mabee Welcome Center, Bethany College campus.

April 10 (Good Friday)
*J.S. Bach’s “Passion According to St. Matthew,” 7:30 PM @ Presser Hall Auditorium
New to the stage this year is guest conductor, Dr. Bradley Vogel from Hillsboro, KS. Dr. Vogel will make his St. Matthew’s Passion conducting debut with the Bethany Oratorio Society in this one-time guest performance. Bach’s setting of this Passion story is considered one of the pinnacles of choral-orchestral performance and features two choirs and two orchestras.
Tickets: $17 — reserved seating
This event is CANCELLED.

April 12 (Easter Sunday)
*Handel’s “Messiah,” 3:00 PM @ Presser Hall Auditorium
Tickets: $17 — reserved seating
POSTPONED TO JUNE 19: Another performance, this one featuring the entire Oratorio Society (and more), is planned for the evening of Friday, June 19, in conjunction with the Lindsborg Midsummer’s Festival. This performance will be held outdoors, in front of the Swedish Pavilion in Lindsborg’s Heritage Square. Dr. Lucas is calling this a “Y’all come sing” event, meaning anyone who has ever sung or played Messiah is invited. To join this one-time performance, we ask that you attend a brief rehearsal at Heritage Square Friday, June 19, at 5 pm. This performance will be free and open to the public. However, a free-will offering will be taken to offset the costs of the performance.

The Bethany Oratorio Society will perform its historic and rich performances of J.S. Bach’s “Passion According to St. Matthew” on Good Friday, April 14, and G.F. Handel’s “Messiah” on Easter Sunday, April 16. The Bethany Oratorio Society has been performing Handel’s “Messiah” continuously since 1882 and Bach’s “Passion” since 1929. During Holy Week each year in Lindsborg, the more than 300 member community chorus and orchestra are joined by professional operatic guest soloists for the performances.

*Ticketed events