Similarly, junior music major Noah Bostic, came to Bemidji State specifically to pursue a degree in music. “It’s a great experience and I would highly recommend it.” “It’s smaller so you get to know everyone and you have a nice community of people to grow and learn with,” she said. Hailing from Virginia, Minn., Max was attracted to Bemidji State’s tight-knit music department. “We wanted to be back on stage as soon as we safely could.” “The music department knows how much our community loves theater and we do too,” she said. While the COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges for supporting live-audiences and in-person theater opportunities, it heightened the fervor of BSU students to get back on stage.Įmily Max, a vocal performance junior, said students in the music department were thrilled to return to the stage for two opera productions this year. The second production, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” was a fully staged and set production in February.
The first Bemidji State opera production in the 2021-2022 academic school year, “The Old Maid and the Thief,” was a one-act production that was performed as a radio hour with piano orchestration in November. “Largely though, this experience is to educate our singers and give them a chance to do what they will be doing in their careers whether as performers or teachers.” Each individual, including singers, pianists, artists, conductors, orchestra members, technical crew, lighters, costumers and more, have to give their all to produce a good product,” he said. “It takes a considerable amount of time, talent and resources to put an opera together. Producing an opera takes about a year, Renbarger said. “We have wonderful students, faculty, community members and artists from across the state that come together to put on an opera for Northern Minnesota.” “Opera theater is a chance to do opera at Bemidji State,” Renbarger said. Cory Renbarger, associate professor of music and director of opera theater. This academic year, two operas by Italian-American composer, playwright and director Gian-Carlo Menotti graced the main stage of the university’s Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex under the direction of Dr.
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“Not only was it a good ‘first time out of the gate,’ but I was so impressed and proud of how they rose to the occasion.Every year, the Bemidji State University Department of Music works across disciplines to produce a full opera production for the Bemidji community. “Since contests have been canceled the last two years, 90% of our students have never attended contest before,” said Cook. “We had a challenge there, so it was more of a challenge for us to get our stuff together. The pep band went to state with them, Moses added. “No one in our group has ever played at ensemble contest, so to get a superior rating … and we also had boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball (going to state).” “It was a great opportunity for us to get back in front of judges,” said Moses. They received superior ratings from both judges, whose comments included “very disciplined ensemble, great looking group, beautiful legato sections, good rhythmic pulse throughout, nice balance and blend of instrumentation but could use more dynamic changes.” The Nevis School band performed “The Last to Defend” by David Shaffer, directed by Lisa Moses. “I know that the kids felt good about their performance,” Cook said of the choir. They performed “Al Shlosha D’varim” by Allan Naplan and “Dreams of Thee” by Eric William Barnum. It’s good for them to have a good insight of what choir’s like in the future, and to keep them involved in the programs.”įord’s choir received an “excellent” rating. “Not having students allowed to have these opportunities has been a loss,” he said. Park Rapids High School choir director Lucas Ford agreed.
“I think it was a wonderful experience for these kids, because only the seniors really got the last experience of that, because for the last few years they haven’t been going because of COVID,” said Upton, calling it a good experience to sing for judges and hear other area schools perform. They received two “excellent” and one “superior” rating, with the judges commenting that there’s a lot of potential the choir is just starting to tap into. The Nevis School choir, directed by Jake Upton, sang “Requiem” by Craig Hella Johnson and “Bound for the Promised Land” arranged by Brad Printz.
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