Having three of its musical groups selected to perform for the statewide Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) meeting in Wichita at the end of February points to the success of Bethel instrumental and vocal groups. A closer look at some of the individuals who constitute those groups may give some clues to that success.
Siblings Caley and Lindsey Ortman, senior Bible and religion major and sophomore social work major, respectively, from Marion, S.D., were both influenced musically by their family….
Heather Robertsen, a sophomore from rural Newton and a music major with education licensure, began performing in a children’s show choir in second grade and has been busy making music ever since….
Kristin Wedel, senior social work major from Hutchinson, has sung all four years in Concert Choir at Bethel as well as appearing in the musicals “The Fantasticks” and “Brigadoon” and Bethel’s production of Gounod’s opera “Faust”….
Music is primary for brothers Aaron and Joel Linscheid from North Newton. They are both music performance majors — Aaron in trumpet, Joel in saxophone — who are getting K-12 education licensure.
In addition, five students were selected to participate in the Kansas Intercollegiate Band during KMEA: Brett Jackson from North Newton on alto saxophone, Brent Badawieh from Parsons on bass clarinet, Blake Long from Moran on percussion, Heather Robertsen from Newton on bassoon and Andy Toews from North Newton on trombone.