A Kansas college will host over 800 young men Jan. 30 for the Real Men Sing vocal workshop.
Bethany College, located in Lindsborg, Kan. and part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is known for its music program and has hosted the popular event for years.
Students participate in one of three choirs and each choir prepares two songs in advance of the event: Unchanged Voice Choir, Changed and Changing Voice Choir, and High School Choir.
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The most popular choir may be the Changed Voices event. This year the school asked high schools to not send more than nine students. “We have simply outgrown our space,” stated Dr. Mark Lucas, Bethany Music professor and co-chair of the department. Lucas also organizes the event.
This is the seventh year for the Real Men Sing event which is popular with high school choir directors and students from across the state. The workshop offers vocal clinics for young men in the fifth to 12th grades and features guest conductors from collegiate and high school music programs. Clinicians include Greg Bontrager and Nicholas Griggs who will direct the Changed and Changing Voices Choirs. Matt Webber will direct the Unchanged Voice Choir and Dr. Mark Lucas will direct the High School Choir.
Video from the 2019 event:
As a group, the young men will sing “God Bless America” at the free concert in Presser Hall Auditorium, on the Bethany campus, on January 30 at 2:30 pm. If you are unable to attend the concert in person, you can watch on Bethany College’s Facebook (@bethanycollegeks) via Facebook Live.
Students are expected to attend from Salina, Lindsborg, Hutchinson, Great Bend, Ness City, Eskridge, Chanute, Marion, Derby, Inman, Wichita, Abilene, Rose Hill, Peabody, Satanta, Bennington, Maize, Fort Scott, Marysville, Ellsworth, Haysville, Goodland, Sharon Springs, Caney, Canton, Buhler, Riley, Hill City, Prairie Village, Andover, Hoisington, Hoyt, Liberal, St. George, and Westmoreland.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, offers all local high school graduates a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Info availale at www.bethanylb.edu.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice