Lydia Claussen’s song release concert is Dec. 10, in Baxter
Musician Lydia Claussen of Staples will present a song release concert Saturday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m., at the Heritage Church youth building in Baxter. A freewill offering will be taken to support Claussen’s upcoming internship with RAIN Ministries in Minneapolis.
She’s excited for the opportunity to celebrate the release of her song, “All I Know,” Claussen said in a recent interview. She wrote it this past April and subsequently had the opportunity to work with producer Finnoh Bangura on a professional music video of the song. It was filmed at Dower Lake in Staples, Claussen said. A preview of the video will be shown at the Dec. 10 concert.
Claussen, who turns 20 on Dec. 6, said she’s been writing songs for as long as she can remember. The daughter of Dr. Jon and Amy Claussen of Staples, Lydia said music has always played an important role in their family. Her dad plays guitar and sings, and each of her seven siblings have been involved with music to some degree. Most of the ‘Claussen kids’ play an instrument, Lydia shared, adding that she plays piano in addition to singing.
After graduating high school in 2021 (she was home schooled), Lydia enrolled at Berklee School of Music in Boston, taking online courses in songwriting. “It’s a great school,” she said, adding that she’ll finish her course work there in December, receiving a Certificate in Songwriting.
Starting in January of 2023, Lydia will begin her 14-month ministry internship. “I love the ministry and what they stand for,” she said of RAIN. As an intern with the organization, Lydia will be involved with local outreach in the Twin Cities area (including leading small group ministries) as well as mission trips in the lower 48 states. The internship will end with a mission trip to Kenya.
She felt a call to mission work at an early age, Lydia said. Her first trip, at age 13, was to the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. A year later she embarked on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic. “I turned 14 there,” she shared. In 2021, she traveled to Kenya, which was an amazing experience, and she’s excited for the opportunity to return.
The young singer/songwriter is hoping that she’ll be able to combine her love of music and ministry down the road. “I’m passionate about both,” Lydia said.
In addition to her song release concert, Lydia will be performing Dec. 20, from 3 - 5 p.m. at Loco Espress Coffee House in Brainerd. It’s a fun venue, she says, adding that it’s located in the old railroad station in Brainerd.
For more information about Lydia’s music, her upcoming concert and missions fundraiser, visit her website at lclaussen.wixsite.com/my-site-6.
