"The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Him and His Works ~
Dr. Elmer Copley
~ Remembering Bethany College's Oratorio Society Conductor
who carried on "that" "Messiah" traditional excellence for 26 years, taking it to new levels
~ Honoring Him and His Works ~
Dr. Elmer Copley
~ Remembering Bethany College's Oratorio Society Conductor
who carried on "that" "Messiah" traditional excellence for 26 years, taking it to new levels
As a result of his distinguished career for nearly three decades [1960 - 1988] as the conductor for Bethany College's Oratorio Society, Dr. Elmer Copley was to accept for the Oratorio Society the Governor's Arts Award for Performing Arts. This was the first-time-ever award given in this category in 1988. Below, from the Bethany Magazine, Spring 1988, on page 5 is this article titled:
"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. . . ." *
"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. . . ." *
* 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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Of the most important public performances of the Bethany College Oratorio Society for the 20th century in Lindsborg conducted by Dr. Copley, there were two once-in-a-lifetime performances. They were the Easter Eve 1976 performance for His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, and the Easter Sunday 1981 performance for the Bethany College Centennial celebration which was recorded by Delta Records which on the cover credited him for "the national prestige currently enjoyed by the Oratorio Society and the development for over the past two decades."
In "that" standard of "Messiah" traditional excellence, Dr. Copley excelled as the Messiah conductor for 26 years. In addition to the Kansas Governor's Arts Award for Performing Arts award he received for the Oratorio Society, Dr. Copley was the recipient of the Bethany College "Pierson Distinguished Professor of Music" award. During his tenure, Dr. Copley was found with the Oratorio Society and the Bethany College Choir, jointly or separately, conducting the Messiah and other sacred pieces around the country and in Europe.
As an Augustana College graduate, his studies of music and conducting continued at the University of Colorado, University of Iowa, and at Juilliard School of Music. At Bethany College from 1960 to 1988, he was a professor of voice, director of college choir, and conductor of festival music.
When he retired in 1988, he had hopes to write "a much-wished-for history of the Messiah Festival at Bethany College.
In 2018, the Presser Hall Elmer Copley Stage was dedicated to him in the presence of his daughter, international opera singer and Bethany College graduate Ms. Rebecca Copley.
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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, and the Lindsborg News-Record.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Note: This is one section of three on Dr. Copley, For the next section, go to the end of the page for the LINK.
In "that" standard of "Messiah" traditional excellence, Dr. Copley excelled as the Messiah conductor for 26 years. In addition to the Kansas Governor's Arts Award for Performing Arts award he received for the Oratorio Society, Dr. Copley was the recipient of the Bethany College "Pierson Distinguished Professor of Music" award. During his tenure, Dr. Copley was found with the Oratorio Society and the Bethany College Choir, jointly or separately, conducting the Messiah and other sacred pieces around the country and in Europe.
As an Augustana College graduate, his studies of music and conducting continued at the University of Colorado, University of Iowa, and at Juilliard School of Music. At Bethany College from 1960 to 1988, he was a professor of voice, director of college choir, and conductor of festival music.
When he retired in 1988, he had hopes to write "a much-wished-for history of the Messiah Festival at Bethany College.
In 2018, the Presser Hall Elmer Copley Stage was dedicated to him in the presence of his daughter, international opera singer and Bethany College graduate Ms. Rebecca Copley.
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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, and the Lindsborg News-Record.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Note: This is one section of three on Dr. Copley, For the next section, go to the end of the page for the LINK.
Handel's Messiah -- All lyrics from the King James version of the Bible
The literal text represents the development of the Christian plan of salvation -- dividing it into three parts: Jesus‘ birth and life, redemption, and resurrection!
The literal text represents the development of the Christian plan of salvation -- dividing it into three parts: Jesus‘ birth and life, redemption, and resurrection!
For the 2nd section on Dr. Copley go,
HERE for Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the “Messiah” conductor for the Bethany College "Swedish King’s" performance, 1976
HERE for Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the “Messiah” conductor for the Bethany College "Swedish King’s" performance, 1976
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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.
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.
