Good as Gold: Bethel Choir Attains Elite Status

The Bethel Choir won two gold medals and multiple individual awards at the Lorenzo De’ Medici International Choral Festival in Florence, Italy. Now a gold medal choir, the status opens up the choir for future competitions in Europe and reflects the choir’s decades of success.

By Jason Schoonover ’09, content specialist

July 06, 2022 | 2:30 p.m.

The Bethel Choir

The Bethel Choir poses after competing at the Lorenzo De’ Medici International Choral Festival in Florence, Italy, in May.

Throughout its nearly 70-year history, the Bethel Choir has built a strong reputation while performing a wide range of choral pieces throughout the United States and Europe. Recently, the ensemble took that acclaim to new heights.

The Bethel University Choir won two gold medals at the Lorenzo De’ Medici International Choral Festival held in Florence, Italy, held May 26-29. The wins mean that the Bethel Choir attained the status of a gold medal choir, which opens many opportunities for future competitions overseas. “It says that we work toward the excellence that God has given us, showcasing our talents to the glory of God in the highest possible form,” says Merrin Guice Gill, D.M.A, Bethel’s director of choral activities.

This is the first time Bethel’s choir has attained gold medal status. In fact, very few choirs in the U.S. have attempted and earned the designation to date, says Guice Gill. While she expects more choirs from American universities to pursue the designation, Bethel is on the leading edge of the trend. By earning the status, the Bethel Choir will be able to participate in more elite competitions, most of which occur in Europe on a bi- or tri-annual basis.

Such competitions don’t just give the choir a chance to compete at a high level. Guice Gill says they also give the Bethel Choir a chance to perform music that has a message and a purpose for new and unique audiences. Along with entering the Sacred Music category at the festival, most of the music performed by the choir is sacred. “Performing and working and sharing your gifts at Bethel is an opportunity to rise to all that God has placed in you,” Guice Gill says.

“It says that we work toward the excellence that God has given us, showcasing our talents to the glory of God in the highest possible form."

— Merrin Guice Gill, D.M.A, Bethel’s director of choral activities.

Along with the choir’s overall awards, Guice Gill received the Best Conductor Award. But she took more pride in her students receiving individual awards. Kristianna Woller ’24 and Benjamin Shull ’24 received “best singer” awards for solos, while Rayven Davis ’24 received a special mention. Such individual awards are not automatically given at European competitions. They are given only at the judges’ discretion when they deem it necessary—or when the choirs or students attain a certain standard.

To Guice Gill, the choir’s success and gold medal status reflect the opportunities prospective students will have at Bethel. They’ll be able to perform and compete overseas and nationally at competitions like the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). “We have the opportunity to have these elite, high-level experiences,” says, Guice Gill, who adds that students are able to share such experiences with talented, engaged, and energetic peers.

Guice Gill notes the choir’s success benefits the entire university. The choir isn’t made of only music majors; in fact, it features students from a diverse set of majors. Overall, the choir’s success reflects Bethel’s commitment to excellence in teaching and the outstanding performance opportunities students receive both on campus and off. “We are a great place to major in music not just because you have these great experiences, but you also have the opportunity to have the experiences with a wonderful ensemble,” she says.


Awards from the Lorenzo De’ Medici International Choral Festival

May 26-29, 2022 in Florence, Italy

Bethel Choir

  • Two gold medals and two gold diplomas level 2 in the "Youth and University Choirs" and "Sacred Music" categories.
  • Best Performance of Italian Composer's Work for "Miserere Mei Deus" by Gregorio Allegri
  • Best Performance of Contemporary Composer's Work for "The New Colossus" by Saunder Choi
Individual Awards
  • Best Conductor: Merrin Guice Gill
  • Best Female Singer: Kristianna Woller ’24 (Majors: B.S. in Mathematics and Data Science Major, and B.Mus. in Applied Performance with Vocal Performance Emphasis)
  • Best Male Singer: Benjamin Shull ’24 (Major: B.S. in Computer Science, Minor: Mathematics)
  • Special Mention to Female Singer: Rayven Davis ’24 (Major: B.Mus. in Applied Performance with Vocal Performance Emphasis, BMus, Minor: Psychology)

Kristianna Woller ’24 and Benjamin Shull ’24

Kristianna Woller ’24 and Benjamin Shull ’24 received “best singer” awards for solos at the Lorenzo De’ Medici International Choral Festival in Florence, Italy.

Perform at Bethel.

Bethel’s Department of Music and Theatre is known for its commitment to excellence in teaching and the outstanding performance opportunities students receive both on campus and off. The Bethel Choir, Wind Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra tour extensively throughout the United States and abroad. The Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Register, Lucia Chorum, Jazz Orchestras, Handbell Ensemble, and string and wind chamber ensembles offer additional performance opportunities.

Learn more