The Hesston College International Chorale will present a bon voyage concert as a precursor to a three-week European tour at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 10, in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary on the Hesston College campus. The concert is free and open to the public, though a free-will offering will be collected to cover program costs.
The program, entitled “Songs of a Wayfarer,” features music of sojourn, isolation and solace, and is inspired by the campus-wide study of immigration during the 2012-13 year and the First-Year Experience seminar common read “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario.
The group will depart for its cross-cultural tour May 13 and return June 3. They will visit, perform concerts and study country and cultural history in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
The 30-voice mixed chamber choir is under the direction of Bradley Kauffman and accompanied by Ken Rodgers, both Hesston College music faculty members. Holly Swartzendruber, adjunct voice instructor, will travel with the choir as well.
Members of the International Chorale include Rachelle Adrian, Mountain Lake, Minn.; Laura Baker, Protection, Kan.; Joshua Booth, Newton, Kan.; Eric Cender, Valparaiso, Ind.; Emma Cloud, Chandler, Ariz.; Isaac Dahl, Archbold, Ohio; Mischa De Jesus, Kalona, Iowa; Dusti Diener, Harrisoville, Mo.; Jessica Donnelly, Woodvillage, Ore.; Rebecca Eichelberger, Geneva, Neb.; Hannah Fenton, Hesston, Kan.; Rachelle Haarer, Goshen, Ind.; Christina Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Marissa Hochstetler, Strang, Neb.; Galed Krisjayanta, Sukarta, Indonesia; Joshua Landis, Sterling, Ill.; Matthew Lind, Harrisonburg, Va.; Cris Lopez Maldonado, Quito, Ecuador; Morgan Martin, New Holland, Pa.; Karli Mast, Hubbard, Ore.; Savannah Mitchell, Groveland, Ill.; Jake Rhine, Indianapolis, Ind.; Rebecca Rhodes, Arthur, Ill.; Eyan Roth, Hesston, Kan.; Jason Schroeder, Anthony, Kan.; Rachel Short-Miller, Belingham, Wash.; Jeffrey Smoker, Harrisonburg, Va.; Hannah Weaver, Inola, Okla.; Elisabeth Wilder, Hesston, Kan.; and Steven Yoder, McVeytown, Pa.