Editor's note: This is one in a series of stories highlighting Concordia's May 2019 graduates.
When Lindsey Bengsch heard from two teachers years ago that a career in music was not worth pursuing, the 
Reeseville, Wisconsin native remained undaunted and determined to succeed.
Those who know Bengsch would expect nothing less. After all, the parish music major and Waterloo High School class valedictorian told her classmates on graduation day that “life is all about creating yourself.”
Co-recipient of CUW’s Music Leader of the Year Award and holder of a 3.99 GPA, Bengsch will soon celebrate another commencement day. She’ll join a total of 1,238 Concordia University Wisconsin graduates when she walks across the stage Saturday, May 18 to earn her bachelor’s degree.
“Concordia has been a family school,” said the church ministries minor, an accomplished organist who taught herself to play piano on a keyboard at age 12. That same keyboard can be found in her room in Katharine Residence Hall, where she’s been a resident assistant two years. “My brother Brett and two cousins are Concordia graduates and I knew since eighth grade that I wanted to come here and study music.”
For Bengsch, her musical prowess at Concordia did not stop with the organ (she became the church organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Reeseville at 13 after the congregation paid for half her lessons), as she joined Selah, a select women’s choir her freshman year, before joining Kammerchor, the university’s touring choir.
She’s also been a member of The Jazz Ensemble and The Chapel Ringers, in addition to accompanying The Civic Chorale. Bengsch also has been the accompanist for The Ozaukee Chorus in Grafton the past few years, where she met her fiancee, David. Nearly the entire chorus, along with her family, was on hand for her senior organ recital on April 27.
On the immediate horizon is her wedding this summer and a full-time position at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church & School, a large LCMS congregation in Columbus, Indiana. Bengsch notes that she is eager to further her musical talents on an organ which is nearly identical to the one in Concordia’s Chapel of the Christ Triumphant.
“Lindsey is not only a wonderful organist, she’s been an outstanding student in every class,” said Rev. Dr. Dan Paavola, theology division chair and a faculty member since 1996. “Her creative answers were often like a new melody that left me saying: I’ve never thought of that before. She’s a model for all students through her hard work, talents and generous service. She’ll be a tremendous blessing to the Church.”
Learn more about Concordia’s parish music major and church ministries minor.
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