Dr. Beverly Everett

The 2008/2009 season begins Beverly Everett's fifth as Music Director and Conductor of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, and will be her first as the new Music Director of the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra North Dakota. Recognized by the American Symphony Orchestra League as "clearly among the most promising talent in our field," Everett has continued to engage large audiences and solid community support in Bemidji. Her inspiring vision and strong leadership have brought the orchestra to a new threshold in its long history, and have established a model for innovative program building that is sought after throughout the Northwest Minnesota region. Since Everett's arrival to the Bemidji podium, the organization has seen a 75% increase in both ticket sales and funding. The orchestra's season has also increased from four annual concerts, to seven concerts, which include a summer pops concert by Lake Bemidji, Holiday, and Valentines Concerts, as well as four subscription concerts featuring world class guest artists. The popularity of the orchestra can also be contributed Everett's exciting programming and ability to create event-based concerts that reach a wider audience base.

Committed to the young people of the community, Everett helped create the Bemidji Youth Symphony, for which she serves as conductor. These youth have already made a deep musical impression on the community for their dedication and seriousness of purpose. Last year the Bemidji Youth Symphony was invited to perform as special guests for the Northwest Minnesota Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Everett also works with local public and private school music teachers to bring orchestra music and special guest artists into the schools. Additionally, in November of 2006, Everett instituted the first Bemidji Symphony Dance project, modeled after similar projects of the Berlin Philharmonic. This project, presented with permission from the Aaron Copland Foundation, created the opportunity for members of the Bemidji Area Boys and Girls Club to perform an original dance to Copland's ballet Appalachian Spring.

In the fall of 2006 Dr. Everett conducted the North Dakota All State Orchestra festival, and in May of 2007 she conducted for the Johan Sebastian Bach Festival held at Bemidji State University. Everett has also worked closely with Dr. Fulton Gallagher to establish the Lake Bemidji Opera Festival, for which she will serve as Music Director.  The festival begins this summer with two productions, Benjamin Britten's Paul Bunyan, and George Bizet's Carmen. Everett also serves as chair of the Regional Nominating Committee for the American Guild of Organists and is organist at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Bemidji.

Dr. Everett received one of the 2008 Individual Artist Grants through the Region 2 Arts Council of Minnesota to travel to Berlin, Germany where she has a special invitation to observe Sir Simon Rattle in rehearsals of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic and Chorus.