Music students at Bemidji State University will compete for three $1,000 scholarships during the Department of Music’s 29th Don and Ione DeKrey Memorial Vocal Music Scholarship competition.
The April 11 competition will award scholarships to vocal music majors who must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher or a music department GPA of 3.25 or higher. The competition is open to the public beginning at 2 p.m. in the Thompson Recital Hall of BSU’s Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. Admission is free.
A wide variety of musical styles will be featured, including arias, arts songs and musical theater selections. A reception will follow the concert.
“Having this competition is a great addition to our program, and we are extremely blessed to have the love and support of the DeKrey family,” said Dr. Cory Renbarger, assistant professor of music. “The scholarship helps support our students financially, and the contest offers a great boost to morale. Our students not only get the opportunity to compete in a high-stakes competition, but also can support and learn from each other’s hard work on stage.”
About Don and Ione DeKrey
Ione DeKrey, who graduated from Bemidji State in 1975 at the age of 44, was a well-known vocalist in the Bemidji area as a member of the Sweet Adelines and the popular Bemidji quartet “Two Chimes Two.” She also sang with the First Lutheran Church Choir.
The DeKrey Scholarship was established by DeKrey’s family – her husband, Dr. Donald DeKrey, and their four children, Steve DeKrey, Betsey Tower, Dr. Dan DeKrey and Nancy Glenn. The family started the event by pooling memorial money following Ione’s death. Don was added as a namesake to the competition after he passed away in 2014.
For the DeKreys, the scholarship competition has become an important living memorial and a way to give students an opportunity to perform in a competitive situation. Family members attend the competition and assist a panel of Bemidji State music faculty to judge the performances.
Since its inception in 1986, the DeKrey award has supported more than 60 young vocalists with over $40,000 in scholarships. The competition was expanded in 2008 to include awards for three winners per year.
Anyone interested in contributing to the BSU scholarship programs may contact the BSU Foundation at (218) 755-2762.
Contact
• Dr. Cory Renbarger, assistant professor of music
Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling nearly 5,000 students, Bemidji State offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate programs encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.