Edmunds County Tribune -

The Ron and Sheilah Gates Department of Music at Dakota Wesleyan University will sponsor a tour of upper midwest communities in early March.

As part of DWU’s spring break, the Highlanders vocal chorus and the Wesleyan Bells will perform in eight communities March 1-6.

They will perform in the Ipswich School Theatre on Tuesday, March 5 at 1 p.m.

Recent Ipswich grads Emily Knoll and Kamryn Boettcher are chorus members.

Other stops on the tour include:

• Stillwater, Minn. First United Methodist Church on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m.

• Elk Mound, Wis. Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m.

• Fargo, N.D. Fargo First United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 3 at 4 p.m.

• Bismarck, N.D. McCabe United Methodist Church on Monday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

• Aberdeen at North Highland United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

• Wessington Springs High School on Wednesday, March 6 at 10 a.m.

• Plankinton High School on Wednesday, March 6 at 1:15 p.m.

All performances are free and are open to the public.

The Highlanders are directed by Dr. Clinton Desmond, director of choral activities, professor of music, and chair of the Ron and Sheilah Gates Department of Music at DWU. The Wesleyan Bells are directed by Erin Desmond, assistant professor of music at Dakota Wesleyan, who teaches voice and music theory, conducts the Wesleyan Bells and is the university’s accompanist.

Upcoming events for the Ron and Sheilah Gates Department of Music include:

• LyricWood on March 17, 4 p.m., at the DWU Sherman Center, also livestreamed at http://www.dwu. edu/live.

• Spring Music Concert on April 21, 4 p.m., at the DWU Sherman Center, also livestreamed at http://www.dwu.edu/live.