The Bethany Oratorio Society, in partnership with Bethany College and the City of Lindsborg, is set to present the 144th annual Messiah Festival of the Arts — one of the longest-running cultural and spiritual traditions in Kansas.
Founded in 1882, the Bethany Oratorio Society has performed George Frideric Handel’s Messiah each year without interruption, making it the longest continuously running performance of the oratorio in North America. This year's Easter season celebration also features a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Passion According to St. Matthew.
The featured soloists for the 2024 festival include Claire Herzog, coloratura soprano; Michelle Rice, soprano; Maxwell Ary, tenor; and Ian Schipper, bass-baritone. These acclaimed performers will take the stage for both of the major concerts, bringing their artistry and devotion to a tradition cherished by generations of Kansans.
The Messiah Festival of the Arts also features a variety of events open to the public:
- March 24–April 25: The Messiah Juried Student Art Exhibition will be on display at Mingenback Art Center, Bethany College, 335 E. Swensson Street. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- April 10: Messiah Soloists Recital at 7:30 p.m., Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, 402 N. First Street.
- April 11: The Passion According to St. Matthew at 7:30 p.m., Presser Hall Auditorium, Bethany College campus.
- April 13: Handel’s Messiah at 3 p.m., Presser Hall Auditorium, Bethany College campus.
Tickets for both The Passion According to St. Matthew and Messiah are available online or by calling the Messiah Festival office at (785) 227-3380. For additional event details and to read more about this year’s soloists, visit the Visit Lindsborg blog.