Bethel Choir’s spring concert sendoff
Senior Kristianna Woller conducts a song of her choosing in her final performance in Benson Great Hall.
By Benjamin Walls & Benjamin Lee
Kristianna Woller walked onto the stage, centering herself in front of the choir. Her black dress contrasted the blue robes of the choir members. She turned her back to the audience, checked her footing, and took a deep breath. She nodded toward the pianist and raised her hands in the starting position.
Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Bethel University hosted its Spring Choir Concert in Benson Great Hall. The choir started learning some of this music in the fall, but most preparation began collectively in February.
“It’s been a lot of work,” Woller said. “Some of our pieces, such as ‘Fire’, are incredibly rhythmically and technically challenging.”
In the choir, Woller serves both as a soprano and student conductor. This year marks her last at Bethel, as well as her last concert in Benson Great Hall where she is conducting a song in the Bethel Choir.
“It’s bittersweet. I have been in this position for the last three years and have grown so much under the direction of [Bethel Choir Director Merrin] Guice Gill, so I will miss it greatly,” Woller said.
During the concert, Woller performed solos and conducted the song, “Õhtul” which she chose herself.
“Part of why I picked this piece is I was searching for something that was meaningful to me,” Woller said. “And with my Finnish heritage, the closest I could get to that chorally is Estonian.”
“I’m incredibly proud with how Õhtul went, the piece I conducted. Tonight was probably the best we’ve ever sung it.” — Kristianna Woller, student conductor
The Bethel Choir earned two gold medals at the Lorenzo De’ Medici International Choral Festival held in Florence, Italy, in 2022. Woller received the Best Female Singer award and Guice Gill received the Best Conductor award at the festival.
“I’m incredibly proud with how Õhtul went, the piece I conducted,” Woller said. “Tonight was probably the best we’ve ever sung it.”
Saturday’s concert included electric bass, saxophone and didgeridoo.
“They were very well rehearsed,” audience member Linda Gabriel said, “even down to the details of changes with instrumentation. They were very enthusiastic and joyful. It’s fun to see movement in a college-level choir.”
The performance ended with recognition of Woller and other seniors who were performing at the concert for the final year. They were congratulated with a standing ovation.
Bethel’s Choir will be singing at the Basilica of St. Mary April 13, as well as in the Classics in the Great Hall concert, performing Mozart’s Requiem with other Bethel music ensembles. As for Woller, she already has been accepted to two graduate schools with a third acceptance likely.
