Tia Ellies grew up in Balsam Township, population 500, just north of Grand Rapids, and attended mostly small, rural schools, including two years in a one-room school.

Her comfort with small, more intimate communities is partly what drew her to Bemidji State University, but it hasn’t stopped her from having big adventures – studying in China, landing a leading opera role and competing for the Miss Minnesota title.

Ellies, a junior, is double majoring in music with a vocal emphasis and also piano performance and pedagogy. She earned BSU scholarships in both areas of study, as well as other academic awards. She plans to be a music educator, preferably teaching elementary children.

“I’ve always loved music, and in high school instead of an iPhone, I bought my own piano,” said Ellies, who gained her interest in music education as a Bible camp leader at her church, where she also delivered her first vocal performance.

At Bemidji State, Ellies has found larger audiences and a broader repertoire, including opera. She performs with the Bemidji Choir and its holiday Madrigal Dinners. In February, she starred in her first leading opera role in BSU’s production of “The Mikado.”

Two years ago, she spent six weeks in a BSU work-abroad program at Weifang University in China, where she studied Chinese and taught English to children and college students. Partly of Chinese descent, she also discovered and met Chinese relatives in Beijing, and credits the hand of God for the opportunity.

“It was really neat how it all worked out,” Ellies said. “I’m not as proficient in Chinese as I would like, but the experience shaped my perspective. China is so old and so rich in heritage and tradition.”

In June, she will compete in the Miss Minnesota scholarship pageant. As the reigning Miss Bemidji, she plans to use the pageant as a platform to speak out about sex trafficking. She is also involved in a Bemidji-area ministry that works on behalf of trafficking victims.

“Tia is strong, she’s adventuresome and she’s smart,” said Dr. Janice Haworth, associate professor of music. “She got the opportunity to go to China, and she did it and never looked back. I’m so proud of her for trying so many things.”

At Bemidji State, Ellies has found a comfortable place to be bold in her pursuits.

“I’ve appreciated the support of my professors,” she said. “And I love the small community that opens up all these opportunities.”