Dear Bemidji Symphony Friends,
 
Our 2024/2025 season is off to an exciting, fun and busy start for all of us in the BSO family.  From contemporary concertos to the fun music of Prince and Tina Turner, we have brought thousands of musical moments to our community already this season. And we have spread these moments even further through our Minnesota State Arts Board grant that allowed us to bring small group performances to 12 schools in the region. We have even created a children's choir that will make its debut at our annual holiday concert. It is always our goal to enrich the lives of our community, musicians and audience members through our live performances and creative programming. We strive not only to achieve this goal from concert to concert, but we want to ensure that our music reaches as many people as possible for many years to come. 
 
This season marks my 20th year with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, and we want to celebrate with you! Your generosity is ever so appreciated as our organization continues to grow and evolve. To show our appreciation, we're hosting a special sweepstakes—and every donation gives you a chance to win one of four fantastic prizes. Donate between December 1, 2024, and February 16, 2025, and you'll be entered into a random drawing for one of four exciting prizes: a stunning custom pendant from Ken K Thompson, a handmade, musically-themed quilt, two season tickets to the 2025-2026 season, and a Tutto Bene gift card to enjoy a delicious meal. Donations can be made online or by mail using the envelope provided. You can enter the sweepstakes without donating by signing up for our mailing and email list, but our hope is that you will help us reach our $20,000 fundraising goal for the year. For more information, scan or click the QR code below. Our goal is to show our appreciation for your support and reinvest every donated dollar back into the community through artistic experiences.
 
Your tax-deductible gift enables the BSO to continue giving concerts of the highest artistic quality and creating programs that reach the community and youth.  Your generosity helps us dream, grow and thrive. We hope to see you at our upcoming concerts or Bloody Mary Battle on January 26th. Thank you for your continued support. The Bemidji Symphony and I wish you, your family and friends, a most safe and blessed holiday season. 

Warmly,
Beverly Everett, Music Director
Bemidji Symphony Orchestra 

20 Years: Looking back on some of the ingredients that make the BSO what it is. ​Today’s theme: “Program Building Based on Faith in People and Respect for Past Work.” 
 
Musically speaking, I come from a strong line of program builders.  A general understanding of program building in orchestras would imply: helping a group grow in numbers and artistic ability over a long period of time. Stephen Heyde at Baylor University, William Jones who built the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies; Murry Sidlin who created Defiant Requiem; Joseph Giunta who has built the Des Moines Symphony over 3 decades; JoAnn Falletta who is currently celebrating 25 years with the Buffalo Philharmonic. And the late Larry Rachleff who built the program at Rice University. I could go on, but all of these people share similar traits: dedication to a particular place/community; unwavering belief in the human spirit; patience during tough times; persistence. 
 
When I first came to Bemidji, like many young conductors, I did not necessarily see myself staying here for a long time. But those influences mentioned above, kept inspiring me. I will never forget Ann Hayes saying, “We have a belief that this can be more than it is.” I know that over the course of my career, I have been accused of “over-programming.” Not making concerts too long; but selecting music that some would think not appropriate or doable by a “community orchestra.” The influence particularly of Stephen Heyde played a large roll in this tendency in me. I was a student at Baylor during the lean years for the orchestra- during a time of regrowth. (I would encourage you to go on YouTube and listen to recent recordings of the Baylor Symphony to see what it ultimately had become as of 2 years ago when Stephen retired.) Mr. Heyde was criticized by the faculty back then for programming pieces too difficult for the orchestra. But his unwavering belief in the students to rise above, to accomplish something beyond their dreams, paid off. And this became my standard with the Bemidji Symphony.
 
Along with the belief that “this could be more,” and the belief in the musicians to keep raising the bar, was a dedication in me to be respectful of what had gone on before me.  I was not creating an orchestra from scratch. In fact, the conductor, Tom Swanson, continued to PLAY in the BSO under my direction! This was unheard of. The support of Tom, and Pat Riley, Bobby Sellon, Ann Hayes, Eve Sumsky, and others who were/are long time members of the orchestra, played a crucial role in our growth together. In my years here, regardless of how proud I have been of the growth or how monumental our achievements, I have never wanted to tout that in a way that disrespected those who gave so much of their time, resources and talent to make the BSO what it is today.  

I want to celebrate these 20 years with the BSO and celebrate those who have worked tirelessly (and usually without pay) to build this program. I want to celebrate achievements like concerts with André Watts, the Defiant Requiem, Mahler 2, working with Carol Wincenc and others, and to look forward enthusiastically to the future to dream even bigger for the BSO!

Maestra Beverly Everett