BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University will showcase its Bemidji Choir and Trumpet Ensemble in a special Choral and Brass Ensembles concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 1, as both groups prepare for international performances.

The concert, which also will include performances by three brass quintets and a low brass ensemble, will be held in the Main Theatre of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex and will be offered free of charge.

Bemidji Choir
The Bemidji Choir, under the direction of Dr. Bradley Logan, is preparing for a tour of the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in May and will perform “Kur Giria Zaliuoja” (The Forest Murmurs) by J. Gudaviciaus. This Lithuanian folk song will be sung in the original language.

In addition, the choir will sing a Gershwin medley arranged by Edwin Fissinger, including “Our Love Is Here To Stay.” The medley features student soloists Matt Goinz on piano, a senior majoring in theater, and Jake Jacobson on string bass, a sophomore majoring in music education, both graduates of Bemidji High School.

The Bemidji Choir undertakes an international tour every three years and also performs an annual spring tour of communities in Minnesota and the surrounding region.

The Trumpet Ensemble
The Trumpet Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Del Lyren, will play “Suite Española” by Isaac Albeniz, arranged by David Marlatt, a piece that the group will give as a world premiere performance at the International Trumpet Guild convention in Banff, Alberta, Canada, on June 3. Only top-auditioned college ensembles are invited to perform at the convention. The ensemble will perform the piece as the opening act for Niklas Eklund of Sweden, who is lauded as one of the great trumpeters of the world. By coincidence, Eklund has performed twice in Bemidji on the Bemidji Concert Series.

The six members of the BSU Trumpet Ensemble who will perform in Banff are all trumpet majors. The ensemble was last invited to the International Trumpet Guild convention in 2004.

Brass ensembles
Three brass quintets and a low brass ensemble will perform a variety of pieces, including Queen standard “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Ants Marching,” a Dave Matthews Band tune.

For more information, please contact the Department of Music at (218) 755-2915.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
May 1 – 7:30 p.m. – Choral and Brass Ensembles Concert presented by Bemidji State University. Location: The Main Theatre of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex on the BSU campus. Admission: Free of charge.