Choral excellence on campus: A history of three ensembles
LOGAN DEMOND
Staff Writer
Bethel College music maintains a great amount of anonymity around campus. As the student population has drastically changed since 1887, so has the makeup of what is popular among students. The argument that other activities such as musical groups have taken the backseat has been made, but the truth, however, is that the roots of musical groups on campus run deep. If students did not already know, now they do: Bethel College is home to three elite vocal groups. While it can appear that the reality is other activities versus music, these groups are made up of students heavily-involved in other endeavors.
The Bethel College Concert Choir represents a multitude of students attending Bethel College for more than just music. Football, volleyball, track and field, cross country, tennis and various clubs and organizations are among the many activities represented in the choir. Students share different leadership and membership roles in each of these.
Concert Choir is not a small time commitment. This serious group of vocalists is made up of about fifty students who meet every day, giving up their noon hour, to perfect their craft. It is not uncommon to see choral students darting in and out of the cafeteria before the bells ring at 12:00 p.m., or just before it closes at 1:00 p.m., to grab a quick bite to eat. While many students use this time for socialization, socializing takes the back seat during the year as the dedication to perfection and a history of tradition precedes the songbirds of Bethel College.
“Bethel’s music groups are an important part of alumni engagement and outreach. Concerts on campus, performances at Fall Fest, choir tours and performances in churches consistently draw crowds. Our alumni, especially our music alumni, take great pride in Bethel’s music groups and like to share memories about their experience. These groups are also a great student recruitment tool,” Brad Schmidt said.
For a select group of men and women on campus, time commitments to the performing arts are even more extensive. In 2001, a small, all-male group of Bethel College students involved in Concert Choir were seeking more. In response, they loosely formed a group that came together twice a week to sing informally for the love of music. Today, that group is known as Open Road.
Since 2001, Open Road has evolved to look slightly different. Continuing rehearsals twice-weekly, this group of vocalists is highly selective, performing at special events on and off campus. Being chosen as a member is considered a high honor among Bethel College musicians. As seniors graduate, new members are chosen to continue the twenty-year tradition. Since its inception, tens of members have performed and now live all across the nation.
“I would describe the honor as one that follows the rich history of music at Bethel College. Our members are taking part in a tradition of excellence in the fine arts that Bethel has historically taken pride in, so that is something I always keep in mind when I sing,” Jerod Kauffman, senior from Moundridge, said.
Just as fascinating as the group itself, though, is the story of how this once informal group chose its name. Performing at a church one Sunday, the original members of the ensemble witnessed a homeless man enter the service.
“He was receiving aid from the church. We listened to the man’s story and discovered that he had no name; he went by the alias of ‘Open Road.’ Because we were moved by his testimony and his evident joy of life, despite his suffering and disappointment, we decided to honor him by assuming his name, Open Road. That story and his image have stayed with us ever since that experience” the original members in an excerpt shared by Professor and Chair of Music, Dr. William Eash, said.
The men of Bethel College are not the only ones with a rich musical history, however. Ever challenging itself to promote equality across gender lines, a number of years later, a women’s ensemble entered the scene under the name Avenue 8. While Dr. Eash was unable to determine the exact year the group was formed and the meaning behind the original name, their rise to popularity on-campus and throughout the community came at a rapid pace. Throughout the years that followed, Avenue 8 became what is now known as Woven. New members are chosen by current members based on their performances during Concert Choir auditions and rehearsals. Woven’s performances are the highlight of several campus events.
“It’s an honor to be a part of Woven because it means that your peers recognized you as a strong singer. Also, since it is completely student-led, there’s definitely an added responsibility of not only representing Woven well, but also representing Bethel College well when we go out and perform,”Annie Carlson, senior from Freeman, South Dakota, said.
Each of these performance groups not only provide opportunities for musically-inclined students on-campus, but serve as a strong recruitment tool, continuing the tradition of excellence in Bethel College music.
