Music and Performing Arts Department
2025-26 Performance Calendar
PERFORMING WITH
PURPOSE
Glorifying God and Serving Others Through the Performing Arts
The Department of Music and Performing Arts seeks to help students achieve their highest level of musicianship, prepare for careers in music, and provide opportunities for all students to cultivate skills in the performing arts. We do all of this to equip young people for service in the community, the church, and the world.
Fall 2025
Faculty Chamber Recital
Sunday, September 7 - 3 p.m.
Benson Great Hall
Adults, Seniors $10; Students Free
We open our concert season with a faculty chamber concert showcasing the musical skills and collaborative spirit of Bethel’s music faculty. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from those who teach and inspire our students every day.
Little Women:
The Broadway Musical October 16-19; 23-26
Glenn Morehouse Olson, Director Black Box Theatre
General Admission - $20, $15, $10
Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested. Her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.
Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott; Book by Allan Knee; Lyrics by Mindi Dickstien; Music by Jason Howland
Wind Symphony Fall Concert
Friday, October 17 - 7:30 p.m.
Ben Blasko, Conductor
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
The Bethel Wind Symphony under the baton of newly appointed Director of Instrumental Activities, Dr. Ben Blasko, presents an evening of great works for band including selections by Jack Stamp, John Williams, and Bruce Yurko.
Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert
Sunday, October 26 - 3 p.m.
Brad Cawyer, Conductor
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Come celebrate Dr. Brad Cawyer’s Benson Great Hall conducting debut as Director of Orchestras and newly appointed Director of String Activities. The Chamber Orchestra will perform a program of works for chamber and full orchestra.
LITTLE WOMEN
Little Women is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www. mtishows.com
Great Hall Choral Arts Festival Concert with B.E. Boykin
October 28- 7:30 p.m.
Bethel Choir
Guest High School Choirs
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Join us for the culminating concert of Bethel University’s 7th Annual Great Hall Choral Arts Festival entitled Supporting, Singing, Serving. This year’s featured conductor and composer is Dr. Brittney E. Boykin, joining us just months before the world premiere of her new opera, My Name is Florence, presented by MN Opera. The evening concert showcases individual performances by participating high schools and the Bethel Choir, and will feature selections by Boykin.
Performance Prize Competition Recital
Thursday, October 30- 7:30 p.m.
Benson Great Hall
Free Event
The Performance Prize Competition features solo performances by Bethel students competing in the categories of voice, keyboard, and instrumental. This recital o!ers a unique opportunity to experience the artistry and dedication of Bethel’s emerging student musicians.
Alcott
A Savior, Who is Christ the Lord
December 4-6
Bethel’s 69th Annual Festival of Christmas
Benson Great Hall | Reserved Seating | $23, $20 (Thu); $28, $25 (Fri/Sat)
Celebrate the wonder of the season at Bethel’s cherished Festival of Christmas. Now in its 69th year, this beloved tradition features inspiring music, meaningful performances, and the joyful message of our long-awaited Savior. Surrounded by festive decorations and a spirit of hope, join us for an unforgettable evening of choral and instrumental carols shared with family, friends, and community.
West Side Story
February 5-8
Book
by
Arthur Laurents | Music by Leonard Bernstein | Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Based on a conception of Jerome Robbins
Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Glenn Morehouse Olson, Director
Ben Blasko, Conductor
Benson Great Hall | Reserved Seating | $25, $15, $10
From the first notes to the final breath, West Side Story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. Arthur Laurents’ book remains as powerful, poignant, and timely as ever. The score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. The world’s greatest love story takes to the streets in this landmark Broadway musical that is one of the theatre’s finest accomplishments. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is transported to 1950s New York City as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence, and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching, and relevant musical dramas of our time.
Lucia Chorum & Royal Register
Fall Concert
Saturday, November 1 - 7:30 p.m.
Brad Beale, Conductor
Elizabeth Allison, Collaborative Pianist
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Brad Beale conducts Bethel’s Lucia Chorum and Royal Regsiter choirs as they present a program of choral works written specifically for men’s and women’s voices. This special evening highlights a diverse and expressive program of choral works and celebrates the unique sound and spirit of each ensemble.
Jazz Orchestra Fall Concert
Friday, November 7 - 7:30 p.m.
Jason Harms, Conductor
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Get ready for a night of toe-tapping jazz! Featuring timeless standards, exciting improvisation, and performances by guest artists and talented student soloists, this concert promises an evening full of swing, style, and sound.
Two Pianos 2.0
Elizabeth Allison, Piano
Sunday, November 9 - 3 p.m.
Benson Great Hall
Free Event
Faculty artist Dr. Elizabeth Allison and guest performer Dr. Susan Medley reunite for a recital first performed together as college students. Join us for this rare musical homecoming, celebrating friendship, memory, and the timeless joy of playing music together.
Philharmonic Orchestra Fall Concert
Friday, November 14
7:30 p.m.
Brad Cawyer, Conductor
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Experience the rich sound of a full symphonic ensemble at the Bethel Philharmonic Orchestra’s Fall Concert. Conducted by Dr. Brad Cawyer, the orchestra brings together Bethel students, faculty, alumni, and community members who share a love for great symphonic music. Join us for an inspiring evening of works for full orchestra, performed in a spirit of excellence, collaboration, and community.
Swingin’ on the Egg
Bethel Jazz Orchestra
Tuesday, December 9 - 7-9 p.m.
Jason Harms, Conductor
Brushaber Commons Atrium
Free Event
Celebrate the season with a festive evening of swing dancing, live jazz, and Christmas cheer! Join the Bethel Jazz Orchestra and friends for a lively swing dance night filled with classic jazz standards, energetic rhythms, and nonstop fun.
Spring 2026
Music Scholarship Audition Day
Saturday, February 21
Each year the Department of Music and Performing Arts awards scholarships to highpotential incoming students. If music is your passion and you desire to major in or be involved in music at Bethel, consider applying for Bethel’s music performance scholarship!
Learn more at tinyurl.com/5n8px5mk
Concerto-Aria Competition
Recital
Thursday, February 26 - 7:30 p.m.
Benson Great Hall
Free Event
This annual competition o!ers student musicians the chance to compete for the opportunity to perform with the Festival Orchestra at the Classics in the Great Hall concert on May 8.
He Will Hold Me Fast
Merrin Guice Gill, Voice
Thursday, March 5 - 7:30 p.m.
Benson Great Hall
Adults, Seniors $10; Students Free
Faculty artist Dr. Merrin Guice Gill takes the stage accompanied by collaborative pianist, Emily Urban. They will be joined by fellow faculty members Brad Beale, tenor; Angela Waterman Hanson, violin; Mark Kausch, string bass; Sandra Sheih, flute; and Justin Staebell, baritone.
Featured Ensemble
Spring Concerts
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Philharmonic Orchestra
Spring Concert
Friday, April 17 - 7:30 p.m.
Brad Cawyer, Conductor
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Wind Symphony
Friday, March 27
7:30 p.m.
Ben Blasko, Conductor
Bethel Choir
Saturday, March 28
7:30 p.m.
Merrin Guice Gill, Conductor
Emily Urban, Piano
We Shall Walk Through the Valley
Lucia Chorum & Royal Register
Friday, April 10
7:30 p.m.
Brad Beale, Conductor
Elizabeth Allison, Piano
Chamber Orchestra
Sunday, April 12
3 p.m.
Brad Cawyer, Conductor
Our community symphony orchestra presents well-known classics from the symphonic repertoire. Come hear these masterworks performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra in the fabulous acoustics of Benson Great Hall.
Jazz in the Great Hall
Friday, May 1 - 7:30 p.m.
Jason Harms, Conductor
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students $5
Join us for an enchanting evening with our jazz orchestra, featuring timeless jazz standards and swinging vocal solos. Celebrate the rich traditions of jazz with us—an unforgettable night of music awaits!
Handbell Ensemble
Spring Concert
Sunday, May 3 - 3 p.m.
Debra Garvey, Conductor
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Join us for a family-friendly concert featuring the Bethel Handbell Ensemble! Perfect for music lovers of all ages, this event may even include a chance for you to ring a few bells yourself! Bring your friends and family for an afternoon of music, laughter, and community!
Opera and Musical Theatre Scenes Show
Saturday, May 16 - 7:30 p.m.
Benson Great Hall
Adults $15; Seniors $10; Students Free
Bethel Music and Performing Arts presents a caberet-style performance of opera and musical theatre favorites! Singing, dancing, drama, humor–there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Scenes performed and directed by Bethel students and faculty. Accompanied by Emily Urban, collaborative pianist.
Violins of Hope Concert
Sunday, June 28 - 2 p.m.
Benson Great Hall Free Event
Bethel is excited to partner with Violins of Hope to present a special concert based on a private collection of violins, violas and cellos, all collected since the end of World War II. Many of the instruments belonged to Jews before and during the war.
Learn more at www.violins-of-hope.com
Summer Piano Academy
July 6-13
This academy is designed to foster musical growth and artistry. Students will develop their performance skills, build lasting friendships, and experience inspiring mentorship from dedicated, caring music educators.
Learn more at www.bethel.edu/events/summerpiano-academy
NOTEBOOKS OF Leonardo da Vinci
Friday, May 8 7:30 p.m.
Classics in the Great Hall
Benson Great Hall | General Admission | $20, $15, $5
Bethel University’s Festival Choir and Orchestra is excited to present Minnesota composer Jocelyn Hagen’s The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, in Benson Great Hall. This multimedia work was composed in 2019 and has since quickly grown in popularity and been performed over two dozen times across the country. In the words of the composer, “Utilizing the latest in video syncing technology, Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks are brought to life through his words and drawings in an unforgettable multimedia concert experience created for SATB choir, full orchestra, and video projections.”
The evening will be rounded out with performances by the 2026 Concerto/Aria Competition Winners and the Bethel Wind Symphony. Join us for this very special evening in Benson Great Hall!
Ticket Information
Online
tickets.bethel.edu
Phone
651.638.6333 (2-5 p.m., M-F)
In Person
Ticket O ce (2-5 p.m., M-F)
Lundquist Community Life Center Lobby
Performance Venues
Benson Great Hall (Community Life Center)
Black Box Theatre (Clauson Center)
3900 Bethel Drive
Arden Hills, MN 55112
Questions?
651.638.6333
ticket-o ce@bethel.edu
Additional Information
• Tickets required for all events unless otherwise indicated.
• Group Discounts - Many performances o er discounts for groups of 10 or more. Contact the Ticket O ce for pricing and availability.
• All seating is general admission except for Festival of Christmas and West Side Story.
• Black Box Theatre - Please see parking location and building entrance information at time of ticket fulfilment.
• Theatre patrons arriving later than 15 minutes before theatre performances may be unable to sit with their party.
• Free parking is available for all performances in the West or East Parking Lots.
• Directions to Bethel and campus maps may be found at maps.bethel.edu.
Music and Performing Arts at Bethel University
Bethel’s Department of Music and Performing Arts is known for its commitment to excellence in teaching and the outstanding performance opportunities students receive both on and o campus. The distinguished faculty guide students through programs in music education, applied performance, music composition, and performing arts. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree, Bachelor of Music degrees are o ered with emphases in vocal, instrumental, or music composition. A Minor in Music is o ered as well as our new interdisciplinary Media and Performing Arts Minor incorporating coursework and performance opportunities in music, theatre, media production, and communication. It’s also possible to combine a performing arts program with another major— including business, biblical and theological studies, English, or pre-music therapy.
The Bethel Choir, Wind Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra tour extensively throughout the United States and abroad. These groups, along with Bethel’s other performance ensembles, perform together in Bethel’s annual Festival of Christmas, Jazz in the Great Hall, and Classics in the Great Hall concerts. The Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Register, Lucia Chorum, Jazz Orchestras, Handbell Ensemble, and string and wind chamber ensembles o er additional performance opportunities.
Fully-staged musical theatre and opera productions are produced in Benson Great Hall during the January Interim session in alternating years and annual theatre performances are presented in our black box theatre. Musical theatre and opera workshops provide additional acting and performance opportunities each spring.
Bethel’s performance facilities for both music and theatre include the 1,700-seat Benson Great Hall, which is recognized as one of the finest performance halls in the Upper Midwest. With its 67-rank Blackinton Organ, Benson Great Hall is one of the few concert halls in the Twin Cities with a pipe organ. Bethel’s Black Box Theatre seats up to 140 within a flexible space, allowing for diverse staging techniques and seating arrangements.
Bethel University is a leader in Christ-guided higher education, with 4,700+ students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based on 247 wooded acres in St. Paul, Minnesota—and drawing recent students from all 50 states—Bethel o ers bachelor’s and advanced degrees in over 100 areas of study. Educationally excellent classroombased and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.
Music and Performing Arts at Bethel Program Highlights
Music Performance Scholarships
Each year the Department of Music and Performing Arts awards scholarships to high-potential students. If music is your passion and you desire to major in or be involved in music at Bethel, consider applying for Bethel’s music performance scholarships.
Extensive performance opportunities
Bethel provides extensive opportunity for all students—music majors and non-majors alike—in both large and small ensembles, including band, choirs, orchestra, jazz, handbells, opera, musicals, chamber ensembles, and more.
Renowned performance facility
Bethel’s 1,700-seat Benson Great Hall, one of the finest concert halls in the Upper Midwest, attracts local and national performers to aid in your growth as a musician or actor.
National and international tours
Music ensembles tour within the U.S. and internationally giving you the opportunity to share God’s love and inspire others through performance.
Multi-disciplinary preparation
Because we’re a liberal arts institution, you’ll interact with a variety of disciplines, which prepares you for a multitude of careers. And with nearly 300 university students involved in ensembles, your experiences will be rich and diverse.
Talented faculty
Professors are passionate, innovative teachers, as well as talented artists in their own right. From private lessons to music theory classes, honoring God with our talents and discipline is at the core of what we do.
Music competitions
We sponsor two student competitions each year, o!ering you top-level performance preparation and scholarship opportunities.
Excellent career placement
Nearly all of our recent music education grads who actively seek teaching positions have been placed in jobs throughout Minnesota and the nation. Those pursuing advanced studies have earned placement in some of the most selective, prestigious graduate programs in the country—and abroad.
Music | Music Education | Applied Performance
Students prepare for professional careers in a variety of industries and graduate programs in fields ranging from performance to music therapy to education.
MAJORS
Music | Media and Performing Arts
Our media and performing arts minor allows you to follow your passion for performance while advancing your technical skills. Your classes and performing opportunities include a variety of subjects, including media production, communication, acting, musical theatre, and opera—so you’ll be equipped to not only tell meaningful stories, but produce them as well.
MINORS
Music Performance Endorsement | Pre-Music Therapy
With the music performance endorsement, you’ll grow your creative abilities beyond your academic discipline. Our pre-music therapy program will prepare you for graduate coursework to become a registered music therapist.
PROGRAMS
Bethel is a private Christian university in St. Paul, Minnesota. We o er face-to-face and online programs in more than 100 areas of study, where students find space to belong and become the people God calls them to be.
Learn more at bethel.edu/music