BEMIDJI, Minn. (March 1, 2011) — The Bemidji Choir, Chamber Singers and Musikanten men’s chorus, under the direction of Dr. P. Bradley Logan, professor of music at Bemidji State University, will open a five-day 2011 spring tour on Wednesday, March 23, in Blue Earth, Minn.

The tour begins March 23 and include five concerts in five Minnesota cities, culminating with a Saturday, March 27, home concert in Bemidji. Tour dates include:

• Wednesday, March 23 – Blue Earth, Minn.
The Bemidji Choir features Blue Earth native John Stewart, senior in music technology.
8:00 p.m. – Trinity Lutheran Church; 235 East 7th St.

• Thursday, March 24 – Rochester, Minn.
7:30 p.m. – Zumbro Lutheran Church; 624 3rd Ave. SW.

• Friday, March 25 – Minneapolis, Minn.
7:30 p.m. – Colonial Church of Edina; 6200 Colonial Way.

• Saturday, March 26 – Crosby, Minn.
1:30 p.m. – St. Joseph’s Catholic Church; 617 Poplar Street.

• Sunday, March 27 – Bemidji, Minn.
The Bemidji Choir features Bemidji natives Mattea Elhard, junior in vocal music education; Jessica Fisher, senior in vocal music performance; Brenda Sletten, sophomore in vocal music performance; Mallary Herbert, sophomore in mass communication; Jessie Ladig, senior in psychology; Kayla Loeffler, freshman in general studies; Amy Trappe, freshman in general studies; Erik Bergsven, senior in vocal music performance; Tony Tammaro, junior in vocal music performance, and Jake Kaehne, senior in vocal music  performance and composition.
3:00 p.m. – Bethel Lutheran Church; 5232 Irvine Ave. NW.

The program will feature a broad array of pieces, including “Hodie” by Joseph Testa, “Cantate Domino” by Giovanni Gabrieli and an arrangement of “This Little Light of Mine” by Moses Hogan.

The Bemidji Choir was founded in 1937 by Carl O. Thompson and has gained an international reputation for excellence. The choir has represented the United States five times at The Europa Cantat, an international choir festival, and has performed in a number of other countries including Israel, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The choir also has performed at numerous national and regional conventions across the United States.

The choir has also produced Bemidji State University’s world-reknowned Madrigal Dinners for each of their 42 seasons.

The 2011 Bemidji Choir features 49 singers, while the Chamber Singers is an auditioned choir of 16 members from within the Bemidji Choir. The Musikanten chorus features 16 men from the main choir.

Dr. Brad Logan, director
Logan, professor of music and director of choral activities at Bemidji State, received his undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University, a master’s from California State University in Long Beach and a doctorate from the University of Illinois. He has served on the faculties of the University of Montevallo, Louisiana College, University of Illinois and California State University in Long Beach. He made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting René Clausen’s “a new Creation” in 2002, conducted the BSU Chamber Singers on Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” in 2003 and served as conductor of the Röthenberg Choral Festival in Röthenberg, Germany, in 2005. He is the executor of the Edwin R. Fissinger Musical Estate and serves as co-editor of the Edwin Fissinger Choral Series published by Meadowlark Music Publications. Dr. Logan has been an active teacher of voice for 30 years. His studio has produced numerous winners of state and division National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions and prepared students for graduate study at leading conservatories in the United States.