"The Other Swedes"
Honoring Them and Remembering Them
~ The Lindsborg Swedes, Their Neighbors & Friends
<> Their Legacy "Messiah" Performances <>
Dr. & Mrs. Elmer Copley
~ Remembering them and their 29 years of dedication to that Bethany College "Messiah"
tradition of excellence
Honoring Them and Remembering Them
~ The Lindsborg Swedes, Their Neighbors & Friends
<> Their Legacy "Messiah" Performances <>
Dr. & Mrs. Elmer Copley
~ Remembering them and their 29 years of dedication to that Bethany College "Messiah"
tradition of excellence
|
Elmer Copley
(1925-1991) 
|
Ruth Copley
(1924-2001) 
|
They were Augustana Lutheran Christians
In "that" Bethany College traditional standard of "Messiah" performance excellence, the dynamic and energetic professor Dr. Copley, of Irish descent, excelled as the Messiah artistic director and conductor of festival music for 29 seasons, from 1960 to 1988, from age 35 to 63.
He was a man filled with passion for the work who shared his faith through the delivery of this oratorio's "great spiritual message based upon the abiding promises of the Holy Scriptures," as Dr. Emory Lindquist wrote so succinctly in his 1975 book, Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college. Sharing Dr. Copley's faith and those years with him were behind-the-scenes "leading lady" and collaborator Mrs. Ruth Marie Anderson Copley, who at the same time was becoming an acclaimed organist and pianist, all the while they were parenting their daughter Rebecca, who, one day, would also be in the limelight as an international opera singer.
From 1960 to 1988, Dr. and Mrs. Copley were the faces of the nationally and internationally acclaimed Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah performances. Into the last half of his tenure, Dr. Copley would work on and complete his account of the Messiah Festival history for his University of Iowa scholarly treatise. Its title is "Messiah on the Plains, 1882-1976, A History of The Bethany Oratorio Society," and he left a copy of this with Bethany College, which, with the passage of time, could very well be seen as his greatest contribution to the college and one of its greatest gifts!
Of the most prominent and internationally recognized Messiah conductors from the 19th and 20th centuries, Elmer Copley would be the most recent, due to televised performances. However, Samuel Thorstenberg (1871-1938) whose tenure of 11 years from 1898 to 1909 and Hagbard Brase (1877-1953) whose tenure of 31 years from 1915 to 1949 were certainly more closely connected and famous with the Europeans, due to their traveling opera singers and musicians performing in Lindsborg. This, in turn, attracted Messiah Festival audiences numbering in the thousands which easily made headlines around the country.
He was a man filled with passion for the work who shared his faith through the delivery of this oratorio's "great spiritual message based upon the abiding promises of the Holy Scriptures," as Dr. Emory Lindquist wrote so succinctly in his 1975 book, Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college. Sharing Dr. Copley's faith and those years with him were behind-the-scenes "leading lady" and collaborator Mrs. Ruth Marie Anderson Copley, who at the same time was becoming an acclaimed organist and pianist, all the while they were parenting their daughter Rebecca, who, one day, would also be in the limelight as an international opera singer.
From 1960 to 1988, Dr. and Mrs. Copley were the faces of the nationally and internationally acclaimed Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah performances. Into the last half of his tenure, Dr. Copley would work on and complete his account of the Messiah Festival history for his University of Iowa scholarly treatise. Its title is "Messiah on the Plains, 1882-1976, A History of The Bethany Oratorio Society," and he left a copy of this with Bethany College, which, with the passage of time, could very well be seen as his greatest contribution to the college and one of its greatest gifts!
Of the most prominent and internationally recognized Messiah conductors from the 19th and 20th centuries, Elmer Copley would be the most recent, due to televised performances. However, Samuel Thorstenberg (1871-1938) whose tenure of 11 years from 1898 to 1909 and Hagbard Brase (1877-1953) whose tenure of 31 years from 1915 to 1949 were certainly more closely connected and famous with the Europeans, due to their traveling opera singers and musicians performing in Lindsborg. This, in turn, attracted Messiah Festival audiences numbering in the thousands which easily made headlines around the country.
Yet, during the Copleys' tenure much was accomplished and international connections were made for the Bethany College Oratorio Society. In addition to the "first" time ever annual national and international "choir tours" initiated by Dr. Copley with the debut tour at New York City's Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, he and Mrs. Copley cofounded the annual "Hour of Christmas" (referred to now as the Swedish "Juletide") which was their "personal gift" to Lindsborg and the surrounding area. Then, there were three (3) key highlights, achievements, that stood out in the life of the college concerning successful Messiah Festival Bethany College Oratorio Society performances in which he was the conductor.
They were these once-in-a-lifetime performances in Lindsborg:
1. The 1976 Saturday Easter Eve performance of several selections for His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden with a 424-voice chorus and a 75-piece orchestra. The King was on an American Bicentennial year tour from
April 2 through 28, 1976. During the Lindsborg performance, the King would be knighting Bethany College
presidents, the current Dr. Arvin W. Hahn and past Dr. Emory K. Lindquist; and alumnus, Dr. Arthur W. Lindquist,
a renown entomologist.
2. The 1981 Easter Sunday performance for the Bethany College Centennial celebration that was televised for the "first" time live and hosted by Jim Lehrer of PBS and produced by PBS KTPS from Wichita which was viewed by
25 million persons worldwide. The performance was also recorded by Delta Records. The production for this per-
formance received the Gold Award from the International Film Festival of New York. On the Delta Record's cover
is this text:
"Much of the credit for the national prestige currently enjoyed by the Oratorio Society, and the development
over the past two decades, is due to the expertise and leadership of the present conductor, Dr. Copley."
In addition to this Messiah performance, Dr. Copley extended the 1981 Messiah Festival by another week to
include a special reunion "sing-in" for all who had ever sung in the chorus or played in the orchestra which
was to also include an extra Messiah performance with Bethany College alumni as soloists. More than
one-thousand (1,000) participated in the "Messiah Sing-In!"
3. The 1986 two-part performance first of the Good Friday 1727 Johann Sebastian Bach's "The Passion According to St. Matthew" then to follow Handel's grand masterpiece, was also a "first" time duel event televised live by PBS KTPS that was viewed by millions around the world. It was hosted by Smithsonian World's David McCullough.
This performance was first preceded by a large news release write-up titled: KPTS presents: An American Easter.
As a result of Dr. Copley's distinguished career heading this internationally acclaimed Messiah Festival in Lindsborg, Kansas, as the conductor for the Bethany College Oratorio Society, he was to accept for the Society, from the State of Kansas, the Governor's Arts Award for Performing Arts at the Statehouse Rotunda in Topeka, Kansas. This was the first-time-ever award given in this category in 1988. And, the presentation was timed beautifully, nearing the end of Dr. Copley's most brilliant career.
Below, from the Bethany Magazine, Spring 1988, within the head article: "Elmer Copley - The Man and His Music" you will find this sub-article.
They were these once-in-a-lifetime performances in Lindsborg:
1. The 1976 Saturday Easter Eve performance of several selections for His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden with a 424-voice chorus and a 75-piece orchestra. The King was on an American Bicentennial year tour from
April 2 through 28, 1976. During the Lindsborg performance, the King would be knighting Bethany College
presidents, the current Dr. Arvin W. Hahn and past Dr. Emory K. Lindquist; and alumnus, Dr. Arthur W. Lindquist,
a renown entomologist.
2. The 1981 Easter Sunday performance for the Bethany College Centennial celebration that was televised for the "first" time live and hosted by Jim Lehrer of PBS and produced by PBS KTPS from Wichita which was viewed by
25 million persons worldwide. The performance was also recorded by Delta Records. The production for this per-
formance received the Gold Award from the International Film Festival of New York. On the Delta Record's cover
is this text:
"Much of the credit for the national prestige currently enjoyed by the Oratorio Society, and the development
over the past two decades, is due to the expertise and leadership of the present conductor, Dr. Copley."
In addition to this Messiah performance, Dr. Copley extended the 1981 Messiah Festival by another week to
include a special reunion "sing-in" for all who had ever sung in the chorus or played in the orchestra which
was to also include an extra Messiah performance with Bethany College alumni as soloists. More than
one-thousand (1,000) participated in the "Messiah Sing-In!"
3. The 1986 two-part performance first of the Good Friday 1727 Johann Sebastian Bach's "The Passion According to St. Matthew" then to follow Handel's grand masterpiece, was also a "first" time duel event televised live by PBS KTPS that was viewed by millions around the world. It was hosted by Smithsonian World's David McCullough.
This performance was first preceded by a large news release write-up titled: KPTS presents: An American Easter.
As a result of Dr. Copley's distinguished career heading this internationally acclaimed Messiah Festival in Lindsborg, Kansas, as the conductor for the Bethany College Oratorio Society, he was to accept for the Society, from the State of Kansas, the Governor's Arts Award for Performing Arts at the Statehouse Rotunda in Topeka, Kansas. This was the first-time-ever award given in this category in 1988. And, the presentation was timed beautifully, nearing the end of Dr. Copley's most brilliant career.
Below, from the Bethany Magazine, Spring 1988, within the head article: "Elmer Copley - The Man and His Music" you will find this sub-article.
"Oratorio Society Recognized"
"Bethany College Oratorio Society conducted by Dr. Elmer Copley has been named winner of the Governor's Arts Award for Performing Arts. This first-time-ever award was accepted by Copley at a ceremony in the Statehouse Rotunda in Topeka on Monday, February 8, 1988.
"The Governor's Arts Awards recognize outstanding contributions to excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in Kansas. The awards are sponsored cooperatively by Governor Mike Hayden, the Kansas Arts Commission and the Kansas Arts Commission Advisory Council.
"The 107-year history of the Oratorio Society and the Messiah Festival has become a legendary part of the arts on the Plains. Copley has been artistic director of the Festival for 29 years, and conductor for 26 years. . . ."
"The Governor's Arts Awards recognize outstanding contributions to excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in Kansas. The awards are sponsored cooperatively by Governor Mike Hayden, the Kansas Arts Commission and the Kansas Arts Commission Advisory Council.
"The 107-year history of the Oratorio Society and the Messiah Festival has become a legendary part of the arts on the Plains. Copley has been artistic director of the Festival for 29 years, and conductor for 26 years. . . ."
-------
In addition to that award was the prestigious "Pierson Distinguished Professor of Music" award given to him by Bethany College.
Of the accolades that he received in his lifetime, these two were likely the most meaningful to him as well as to his wife.
In 2016, their daughter Rebecca Copley was especially honored to sing at the dedication of the Presser Hall "Copley Stage" honoring her parents posthumously who spent much of their professional lives on that stage deeply committed to carrying on the Messiah traditions and the excellent teaching that characterized so well the ongoing Oratorio Society Messiah performances.
Yet, humbly and respectfully, he gave credit to his Augustana College professor and conductor Dr. Henry Veld for all of the achievements he experienced throughout his career.
Of the accolades that he received in his lifetime, these two were likely the most meaningful to him as well as to his wife.
In 2016, their daughter Rebecca Copley was especially honored to sing at the dedication of the Presser Hall "Copley Stage" honoring her parents posthumously who spent much of their professional lives on that stage deeply committed to carrying on the Messiah traditions and the excellent teaching that characterized so well the ongoing Oratorio Society Messiah performances.
Yet, humbly and respectfully, he gave credit to his Augustana College professor and conductor Dr. Henry Veld for all of the achievements he experienced throughout his career.
-------
- This was the 1988 Bethany Magazine that summed up the career of Dr. Elmer Copley retiring in that year. -
"Elmer Copley - The Man and His Music"
- This was the 1988 Bethany Magazine that summed up the career of Dr. Elmer Copley retiring in that year. -
"Elmer Copley - The Man and His Music"
That Governor Arts Award article is found here on page 5 [2].
NOTE: Press PAUSE to READ. To enlarge font size, press CTRL +
NOTE: Press PAUSE to READ. To enlarge font size, press CTRL +
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Elmer and Ruth
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Elmer and Ruth
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However, it was not only Dr. Copley who deserved recognition and honor, it was also his wife of Swedish descent, Mrs. Ruth Marie Anderson Copley, mother of their daughter Rebecca who kept the home fires burning for the family, yet was equally gifted musically, and with over-the-top performance background and experience. She was as devoted, as he, to seeing that the Messiah performances in Lindsborg would continue to be successful. And to that end, they worked as a team.
As an accomplished pianist and organist, her gifts were fully used at Bethany -- as a pianist, especially with the Bethany Choir and during the Easter Holy Week Messiah Festival with the visiting guest soloists, when she also played hostess to them as well, providing that special Swedish hospitality and traditional meals for which she was so known. As an organist, her yearly role especially was for the annual "An Hour of Christmas." She also served as the Music Department's secretary and was an intermittent music faculty member teaching keyboard studies. She was also looked to as "mom," by countless students both on the campus and while away on those extended college choir tours abroad.
Before the couple arrived in Lindsborg in 1960, Mrs. Copley was on her way of becoming an acclaimed concert pianist in the United States. Some of the major concert halls she would perform in were in Boston at Symphony Hall; in New York City at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, and in Washington, D.C. at Constitution Hall, where the Washington Post's critically acclaimed music editor Paul Hume wrote in 1950,
“No better proportions or support has attended choral work on this stage for some time. Her anticipation for the singing is nearly wizardry, and her ability to merge background and interlude without jar or shock, was unusually satisfying."
As a gifted church organist, she first began her career, you might say, at age 9 "on the bench," as it stated in her obituary. She served as a church organist for over 50 years, primarily in three states. When she lived in Moline, Illinois, she was the organist for her home church, First Lutheran, also at Calvary Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran Churches; and at Rock Island's Saint John's Lutheran Church. While in Kansas, she held organist positions at Lindsborg's Messiah Lutheran Church, McPherson's Trinity Lutheran Church and at Salina's Saint John's Lutheran Church. While living in Minnesota, she was organist at Minneapolis' Mount Olivet Lutheran Church.
As an accomplished pianist and organist, her gifts were fully used at Bethany -- as a pianist, especially with the Bethany Choir and during the Easter Holy Week Messiah Festival with the visiting guest soloists, when she also played hostess to them as well, providing that special Swedish hospitality and traditional meals for which she was so known. As an organist, her yearly role especially was for the annual "An Hour of Christmas." She also served as the Music Department's secretary and was an intermittent music faculty member teaching keyboard studies. She was also looked to as "mom," by countless students both on the campus and while away on those extended college choir tours abroad.
Before the couple arrived in Lindsborg in 1960, Mrs. Copley was on her way of becoming an acclaimed concert pianist in the United States. Some of the major concert halls she would perform in were in Boston at Symphony Hall; in New York City at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, and in Washington, D.C. at Constitution Hall, where the Washington Post's critically acclaimed music editor Paul Hume wrote in 1950,
“No better proportions or support has attended choral work on this stage for some time. Her anticipation for the singing is nearly wizardry, and her ability to merge background and interlude without jar or shock, was unusually satisfying."
As a gifted church organist, she first began her career, you might say, at age 9 "on the bench," as it stated in her obituary. She served as a church organist for over 50 years, primarily in three states. When she lived in Moline, Illinois, she was the organist for her home church, First Lutheran, also at Calvary Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran Churches; and at Rock Island's Saint John's Lutheran Church. While in Kansas, she held organist positions at Lindsborg's Messiah Lutheran Church, McPherson's Trinity Lutheran Church and at Salina's Saint John's Lutheran Church. While living in Minnesota, she was organist at Minneapolis' Mount Olivet Lutheran Church.
>> Their meeting, their backgrounds, the Augustana Lindsborg Messiah performance connection
Dr. and Mrs. Copley, Elmer and Ruth, met while attending Rock Island, Illinois's Augustana College and Theological Seminary, a sister Swedish Lutheran college to Bethany College, founded in 1860. Elmer, of English descent, was living in Davenport, Iowa, his birthplace, just across the Mississippi River a few miles away from the college. Ruth was living in Moline, Illinois, also near the college. Her father was a Lutheran professor minister at Augustana Seminary there teaching Old Testament language, literature and other courses. Her family belonged to the Moline First Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was confirmed and where she would marry Elmer on Palm Sunday, March 18, 1951. (In the passage of time, as shown above, "Evangelical" was dropped in the name of Mrs. Copley's church, thus First Lutheran Church.)
(This was the same church that, in the earliest days, the professors and students from Augustana College adopted as their church when it was first named the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church. This is where church member Lindsborg's "First Lady" Alma Christina Lind Swensson's career as an organist began at age 12, and where she would marry Augustana College and Theological Seminary graduate Carl Aaron Swensson, second pastor of Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church and founder and president of its Bethany College. And, it would be that after they saw the Messiah performed by Augustana students in Moline's Congregational Church in 1881, that had been initiated by Pastor Olof Olson, the Swenssons then worked together to begin the Messiah performances in Lindsborg, with Alma soon taking over the responsibility that laid a solid foundation upon which the performances have thrived since 1882.)
>> After Augustana College, additional studies and their return to Augustana
As Augustana College graduates, the couple moved to New York City from 1952 to 1953. This was for further study of voice at Juilliard School of Music for Elmer who was first known as a professional tenor singer, yet his conducting would soon become first in his performing. While there, pianist Ruth accompanied Elmer and other students at Juilliard. She also continued her studies in Rochester, New York, at the Eastman School of Music where she studied organ with leading American concert organist and teacher Katherine Crozier Gleason. They returned to Augustana College to become members of the music faculty. Ruth became pianist for the college choirs and Elmer became conductor for the seminary chorus and assistant professor to his former conductor professor Dr. Henry Veld, who would eventually become one of the country's greatest conductors of their era.
>> At Bethany College, positions, and additional studies
In 1960, as a result of the untimely death of the newly hired Bethany College conductor, Professor Alvin Reimers, Dr. Copley accepted the offer by Swedish American college president, Dr. L. Dale Lund to fill that vacancy. He was very familiar with the Messiah as he was assistant to his former professor Dr. Henry Veld at Augustana College, the conductor of their college's Messiah performances. The position as conductor at Bethany College led to Dr. Copley's lifetime career there, where he was also a professor of voice, director of the college choir, and the festival music director.
Dr. Copley's additional studies included those at the University of Colorado where he received the Master of Music Degree in 1962; and, in 1976, at the University of Iowa where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance which included his scholarly treatise on the Lindsborg Bethany College Messiah Festival history, the title of which is "Messiah on the Plains, 1882-1976, A History of The Bethany Oratorio Society."
Also, he took three sabbaticals during his nearly 30 year tenure which found the Oratorio Society Easter Week Messiah and St. Matthew's Passion being conducted by his former Augustana College professor Dr. Henry Veld in 1968, Dr. Walter L. Pelz in 1978 and Wayne Mitchell in 1985.
>> "An Evening with the Copleys"
During the summers when Dr. Copley was not teaching, he and Mrs. Copley would go on tour singing and playing the piano respectively for their show, "An Evening with the Copleys." Early on, when their daughter, international concert and opera soprano Ms. Rebecca Copley was accomplished enough, she would join them.
>> Ruth and Elmer left Bethany College on a "high note!"
During their last year, 1988, two weeks after the Easter Messiah Festival, the Bethany College Oratorio Society composed of a 400-voice chorus and 65-member orchestra traveled to the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, with a 12,000 seating capacity, to perform the Messiah. (Their daughter Rebecca certainly would have been with them if it had not been for her debut as Isolde in the opera, Tristian and Isolde, at New York City's Carnegie Hall!)
Following the Kansas City tour was their last Bethany College choir tour to Sweden, a very high note to end on!
>> Conclusions of Significance
Noted in the 1988 article: "Elmer Copley: The Man and His Music" was that he felt he was destined to do something special during the Holy Season. Well, it is crystal clear that he did just that, throughout his entire career at Bethany College with his lovely Ruth by his side. This was and is their Bethany College legacy!!
Noted, also, in that article was that he had hoped "to write a much-wished-for history of the Messiah Festival at Bethany College." Perhaps, he already did in his 1976 scholarly treatise, "Messiah on the Plains, 1882-1976, A History of The Bethany Oratorio Society." The next step could be for others at the college to finish it, for him, in book form. It certainly could be a possibility!
Dr. and Mrs. Copley, Elmer and Ruth, met while attending Rock Island, Illinois's Augustana College and Theological Seminary, a sister Swedish Lutheran college to Bethany College, founded in 1860. Elmer, of English descent, was living in Davenport, Iowa, his birthplace, just across the Mississippi River a few miles away from the college. Ruth was living in Moline, Illinois, also near the college. Her father was a Lutheran professor minister at Augustana Seminary there teaching Old Testament language, literature and other courses. Her family belonged to the Moline First Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was confirmed and where she would marry Elmer on Palm Sunday, March 18, 1951. (In the passage of time, as shown above, "Evangelical" was dropped in the name of Mrs. Copley's church, thus First Lutheran Church.)
(This was the same church that, in the earliest days, the professors and students from Augustana College adopted as their church when it was first named the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church. This is where church member Lindsborg's "First Lady" Alma Christina Lind Swensson's career as an organist began at age 12, and where she would marry Augustana College and Theological Seminary graduate Carl Aaron Swensson, second pastor of Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church and founder and president of its Bethany College. And, it would be that after they saw the Messiah performed by Augustana students in Moline's Congregational Church in 1881, that had been initiated by Pastor Olof Olson, the Swenssons then worked together to begin the Messiah performances in Lindsborg, with Alma soon taking over the responsibility that laid a solid foundation upon which the performances have thrived since 1882.)
>> After Augustana College, additional studies and their return to Augustana
As Augustana College graduates, the couple moved to New York City from 1952 to 1953. This was for further study of voice at Juilliard School of Music for Elmer who was first known as a professional tenor singer, yet his conducting would soon become first in his performing. While there, pianist Ruth accompanied Elmer and other students at Juilliard. She also continued her studies in Rochester, New York, at the Eastman School of Music where she studied organ with leading American concert organist and teacher Katherine Crozier Gleason. They returned to Augustana College to become members of the music faculty. Ruth became pianist for the college choirs and Elmer became conductor for the seminary chorus and assistant professor to his former conductor professor Dr. Henry Veld, who would eventually become one of the country's greatest conductors of their era.
>> At Bethany College, positions, and additional studies
In 1960, as a result of the untimely death of the newly hired Bethany College conductor, Professor Alvin Reimers, Dr. Copley accepted the offer by Swedish American college president, Dr. L. Dale Lund to fill that vacancy. He was very familiar with the Messiah as he was assistant to his former professor Dr. Henry Veld at Augustana College, the conductor of their college's Messiah performances. The position as conductor at Bethany College led to Dr. Copley's lifetime career there, where he was also a professor of voice, director of the college choir, and the festival music director.
Dr. Copley's additional studies included those at the University of Colorado where he received the Master of Music Degree in 1962; and, in 1976, at the University of Iowa where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance which included his scholarly treatise on the Lindsborg Bethany College Messiah Festival history, the title of which is "Messiah on the Plains, 1882-1976, A History of The Bethany Oratorio Society."
Also, he took three sabbaticals during his nearly 30 year tenure which found the Oratorio Society Easter Week Messiah and St. Matthew's Passion being conducted by his former Augustana College professor Dr. Henry Veld in 1968, Dr. Walter L. Pelz in 1978 and Wayne Mitchell in 1985.
>> "An Evening with the Copleys"
During the summers when Dr. Copley was not teaching, he and Mrs. Copley would go on tour singing and playing the piano respectively for their show, "An Evening with the Copleys." Early on, when their daughter, international concert and opera soprano Ms. Rebecca Copley was accomplished enough, she would join them.
>> Ruth and Elmer left Bethany College on a "high note!"
During their last year, 1988, two weeks after the Easter Messiah Festival, the Bethany College Oratorio Society composed of a 400-voice chorus and 65-member orchestra traveled to the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, with a 12,000 seating capacity, to perform the Messiah. (Their daughter Rebecca certainly would have been with them if it had not been for her debut as Isolde in the opera, Tristian and Isolde, at New York City's Carnegie Hall!)
Following the Kansas City tour was their last Bethany College choir tour to Sweden, a very high note to end on!
>> Conclusions of Significance
Noted in the 1988 article: "Elmer Copley: The Man and His Music" was that he felt he was destined to do something special during the Holy Season. Well, it is crystal clear that he did just that, throughout his entire career at Bethany College with his lovely Ruth by his side. This was and is their Bethany College legacy!!
Noted, also, in that article was that he had hoped "to write a much-wished-for history of the Messiah Festival at Bethany College." Perhaps, he already did in his 1976 scholarly treatise, "Messiah on the Plains, 1882-1976, A History of The Bethany Oratorio Society." The next step could be for others at the college to finish it, for him, in book form. It certainly could be a possibility!
THE HOUR OF CHRISTMAS
DR. ELMER AND MRS. RUTH COPLEY'S GIFT TO THE SMOKY VALLEY PEOPLE
DR. ELMER AND MRS. RUTH COPLEY'S GIFT TO THE SMOKY VALLEY PEOPLE
Source: Dr. Emory K. Lindquist's 1975 Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college, page 174
The Bethany College Choir, the Chapel Choir, and the Choraliers present "An Hour of Christmas" each December to a packed house in Presser Hall.
For more information on the Elmer Copley Messiah performance conductor era;
Go HERE to Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the “Messiah” conductor for the Bethany College "Swedish King’s," Carl XVI Gustaf's, performance, 1976.
Go HERE to Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the "Messiah" conductor for the Bethany College "Centennial Celebration" performance, 1981. To see the 1986 press release "KPTS presents: An American Easter," go to almost the very end of that section.
For more history on the Lindsborg Messiah, start HERE to go to Their Bethany College Handel's Messiah Performances, 1882 on ... There you will find more Messiah links.
Go HERE to Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the “Messiah” conductor for the Bethany College "Swedish King’s," Carl XVI Gustaf's, performance, 1976.
Go HERE to Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the "Messiah" conductor for the Bethany College "Centennial Celebration" performance, 1981. To see the 1986 press release "KPTS presents: An American Easter," go to almost the very end of that section.
For more history on the Lindsborg Messiah, start HERE to go to Their Bethany College Handel's Messiah Performances, 1882 on ... There you will find more Messiah links.
* This Bethany Magazine was produced from the OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT: Director, Institutional Advancement: R. Jay Ribble; Director Alumni Relations: Doug C. Talbott; Director, College Relations: A. John Pearson; Director, Planned Giving and Church Relations: Dr. Donald E. Trued; Secretary, Advancement and Alumni: Jane Asche; Financial Secretary: Sherrlyn Sanborn; Secretary, College Relations: T-Ann Kerschner; Special Projects Coordinator and Editor, Bethany Magazine: Nancy B. Peterson.
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Sources: Information on Dr. Copley has come from many sources such as Bethany Magazines, Recording Albums, Dr. Lindquist's Bethany In Kansas, the story of a college, the Lindsborg News-Record, and Copley family information.
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Sources: Information on Dr. Copley has come from many sources such as Bethany Magazines, Recording Albums, Dr. Lindquist's Bethany In Kansas, the story of a college, the Lindsborg News-Record, and Copley family information.
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* * *
"Let Us Remember Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
"Let Us Remember Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
