In Focus: The Bemidji Choir Says Goodbye to BSU Graduates at Senior Concert

On Thursday, family members, friends, and alumni of The Bemidji Choir packed into the Beaux Arts Ballroom at Bemidji State University not only for the choir’s final concert of the year, but to also celebrate the graduating seniors before they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

“[We’re] sending them off into the world on a positive note, encouraging them to go out and do good and be well,” said BSU Choral Activities Director Dr. Isaac Lovdahl.

Dr. Lovdahl wraps up his first year as the full-time director of the choir after serving as interim director for his first few months. He says he’s happy to be staying on long-term.

“These students are wonderful, my colleagues are fabulous,” he added. “It’s been a great year and I’m excited to continue building on that.”

Choir members say they learned so much from their time with the choir that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

“Hard work pays off, but you can also work hard and play hard; those are like the two main things I’ve taken away,” said Andrew Hayward, member of The Bemidji Choir. “I think just putting in your best effort to something you really believe in and you really enjoy, it’s very fulfilling.”

It was a bittersweet concert, though, for graduating seniors who had to say goodbye to their time on The Bemidji Choir.

“Very emotional; I’m glad I did not cry, but it was incredibly fun and the songs we picked were ones that I knew very well, and the new songs were very touching, so it was good,” said graduating member Hadleigh Baynes.

“I’ve met a lot of great guys, great gals,” added Hayward. “Everyone’s been super welcoming and supportive. I’m not a music major and I’ve learned so much, and yeah, it’s just been a great time.”

Dr. Lovdahl hopes that those students can take what they have learned during their time on the choir and use it however they can to help them on the next steps of their journey.

“If they can take that willingness to be vulnerable and that willingness to take risks and make mistakes and grow from them out into every other part of their life, I will be very happy and have felt like I’ve succeeded as an educator,” he said.

Three members of The Bemidji Choir also stepped in as conductors during parts of the concert.