Performing with the Summer Performing Arts Company in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Singing John Denver songs like “Sunshine on My Shoulders” with her dad. Visiting NDSU as a high school student and hearing the resonant, operatic voice of a graduate student in a concert choir rehearsal. Wondering, Oh my gosh … will I sing like that one day?
These experiences shaped a lifelong love of music for vocal music performance major Ellie Knudsvig ’26. But it wasn’t until she received scholarships established by Bob ’67, ’09 and Sheila ’23 Challey that Ellie felt certain: a career in music would be possible.
What she never anticipated? How holistically supported she would feel as a student in the Challey School of Music.
From singing with the NDSU Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, and Bison Arts Singers to playing trombone in both the Gold Star Marching Band and NDSU Lab Jazz Band to working alongside top-of-the-line music educators and honing her skills as a student director of the NDSU Statesmen, a tenor/bass choir, Ellie has pursued many unique opportunities to perform, learn, and lead.
Her senior year, Ellie experienced a new kind of support through the renovation and addition to the Reineke Fine Arts Center, which was recently renamed Challey Hall in honor of Bob and Sheila’s generosity. Driven by growth in NDSU’s music and theater programs, the nearly 10,000-square-foot expansion for the performing arts includes upgraded rehearsal and classroom spaces, advanced technology, a new recording studio, and updates to the exterior facade.
“NDSU is the place to be — and Bob and Sheila Challey know that,” Ellie said. “It’s been so gratifying for us students to feel so supported emotionally, financially, and now physically with this new building.”
Intentions:
Performance countdown: 3 days til first show!!!
Study spot: Student lounge on the 2nd floor, especially after our student council helped refresh the lounge with some new furniture.
Hours logged at Challey Hall: Way too many! Haha. I don’t have class until noon this semester, which is AWESOME, but I sometimes come early for rehearsals, meetings, or practicing. During a performance week, I might be there until 9 or 10 p.m.
Hidden gem: It’s technically in plain sight, but the vibes of the atrium if you go to practice late at night are unmatched.
Days of the week I have sectionals: 2x per week (or as needed)
Currently rehearsing: Handel’s Messiah
Biggest challenge: Messiah is such a great tradition because it allows us to continue finding new challenges and explore the nuances. The first year is all about getting down big-picture things like notes and rhythms and feelings. It’s sort of like an iceberg in a way; the real substance is revealed after you’ve seen all the stuff above the water.
Favorite aspect of the new studio space: The acoustics are great and the windows, which let some sun in, are definitely needed — I know a lot of us wouldn’t be seeing much daylight when the NoDak winters come around otherwise.
Best part of sectionals: It’s great to be able to work with the altos alone and really solidify our parts and talk about some of the things we might not have the time to discuss in rehearsal. Smaller rehearsal settings like this have brought us together with how consistently I see a lot of them; it’s what’s made our section so tight-knit.
Rehearsal days: M-F
Currently practicing: Madrigal Dinners and Handel’s Messiah
Favorite warm-up exercise: Anything where we can work together with other parts, something like chord building/tuning.
Best part of rehearsal: I love all the people in the choir. It sounds cheesy but it really is like a big family. Seeing their faces and singing together is the best part of my day.
Working with Dr. Jilek: Our conductor, Dr. Jilek, is an inspiring presence. He brings such genuine humanity to each rehearsal. Working with him has made me both a better educator and a better musician.
Meeting frequency: As needed, if I have questions or need some expert advice.
Currently seeking advice on: As I’m heading into student teaching, I’ve had some meetings with different professors throughout the Challey School of Music to help me get materials together or to brush up on concepts I’ve learned in my classes.
Working with Dr. Keogh: Dr. Keogh is an educator who truly loves what she does and knows what she needs to do or to know to best prepare her students for the next part of their professional lives. She is truly a pro educator who models great leadership and musicianship.
Performance week: Rehearsals every evening, then Thurs-Sat performances.
Number of shows: 3
What makes this concert unique: This is one of the rare occasions our audience can be so up-close and personal with us. It’s really special to be able to have a dinner theatre setting with all the festive music and acting. I feel like this year, especially, we’ve been able to establish so many personal connections with our audiences through the performances.
Favorite memory: Sitting up on the stage with Nik (the Lord) on our thrones was so much fun, we got to talk the whole night and get off our feet (sorry to everyone else who was standing all night!).
Hours spent practicing: Probably around 4 or 5 hours outside of rehearsal with all the performances coming up. Honestly, I didn’t have a ton to work on, so it was a pretty light week!
Biggest accomplishment: Finishing up my last Madrigals Performance. It was bittersweet, but it means I’m moving forward to the next big thing and that’s exciting.
Campus vibe in one word: Home OR Support. This community SHOWS UP!!!
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Margaret and her husband, Hugh Veit ’79, established the Eleanor S. Fitzgerald Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship to support NDSU students earning advanced degrees in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences or the Department of Human Development and Family Science.
Core areas of home economics remain part of current NDSU degree programs such as accounting; apparel, retail merchandising, and design; education; family and consumer science; financial planning; human development and family science; interior design; and nutrition science.
Home economics programs opened doors, particularly for women, to earn college degrees and pursue careers in education, Extension, state and federal government, business and industry, health care, and more. NDAC listed domestic economy as one of its courses in its founding year, 1890.
Established by Dr. Teresa Conner, dean of the NDSU College of Health and Human Sciences, and co-chaired by Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald ’83 and Col. Esther Meyers ’75, the Wisdom Keepers provide support and share their knowledge and expertise with students, faculty, staff, and leadership in the College.
The home management house at NDAC was the first facility built on a college campus specifically for home management practice. In 1954, it was named in honor of Alba Bales, the first female academic dean at NDAC.