Yes, Borealis Chorale & Orchestra (BCO) is reconvening this year, three years after the last concert! This deeply cherished community tradition, which began in the 1950s, will resume in October 2022.

All musicians who sing or play an orchestral instrument are welcome to join. Rehearsals will be on Sundays at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (417 W First Ave, Grand Marais). Start times are 5:30 pm for the orchestra, and 7 pm for the chorale. The first rehearsal will be on Sunday, October 16th. Concert dates are Sunday and Monday, December 11th and 12th.

Some big news this year is new directorship for the BCO. Longtime director Bill Beckstrand writes, “After more than sixty years of concerts at Christmas (in the old days called ‘The Messiah,’ and in recent years the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra), Cook County’s cherished tradition was upended by a pandemic. After three years, it is time for the concert and the tradition to resume.

“I had the great privilege of directing these concerts for a decade, after B.J. Muus asked me to take the helm. Now, it is time for another passing of the baton, this time into the able hands of Karina Roth. She and I began talking about the prospects for BCO some months ago, and I shared with her my hesitation to take it up again. I am very proud of this chapter in my life—ten years of concerts that were truly remarkable and fine, given our small and remote community. Now, my life has taken some different turns, and with other obligations and commitments I realized the BCO needed new leadership. Karina has agreed to step in, and her musical gifts and leadership are a natural fit. I will continue to be involved on some level and will enjoy seeing and hearing the fruits of a ‘new day’ for the BCO!”

The North Shore Music Association (sponsor of the BCO) and members of the BCO express our sincere gratitude to Bill for sharing his remarkable gift of musical leadership with our community, as we warmly and enthusiastically welcome Karina.

Karina writes, “When Bill asked me to consider directing Borealis, I identified that my core value of BCO is that it welcomes everyone in the community. I think this is perhaps the only musical event that invites the members of different churches as well as non-churchgoers to come together as a group.” With this same core value of openness in mind, participants will be welcome to wear a mask, or to not wear a mask, according to their own comfort level. Karina adds that, “If our community finds itself in another serious Covid wave during the weeks of rehearsals, I may make the difficult decision to cancel rehearsal and/or the concerts. Bethlehem Lutheran Church has a committee, made up of public health and medical personnel, that makes the Covid recommendations for the church, and I will likely take my cues from them. I very much look forward to singing and making music with you all again, however that looks this autumn.”