National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced today that Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts (HBPA) is one of only 163 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Challenge America grant. HBPA is recommended for a $10,000 grant to support a presentation of male a-cappella vocal ensemble The King’s Singers.

The renowned vocal sextet will perform at Hesston College’s Yost Center on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The King’s Singers will also present a choral master class from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Feb. 23, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The class will feature performances by the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers, the Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) Concert Choir and the Goessel (Kan.) High School Elbiata Singers. The master class is free and open to the public.

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “I’m pleased to be able to share the news of our support through Challenge America including the award to Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts. The arts foster value, connection,creativity and innovation for the American people and these recommended grants demonstrate those attributes and affirm that the arts are part of our everyday lives.”

“We are so thrilled to have the support of the NEA for this project,” said HBPA Director Matthew Schloneger. “It is only with the combination of public and private support that we are able to bring world renowned artists such as the King’s Singers to rural Kansas. The master class in particular is only possible because of the grant, and will provide a unique opportunity for a large number of students to work directly with some of the finest choral artists in the world.”

The Challenge America category supports projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. The NEA received 347 eligible Challenge America applications and will award 163 grants for a total of $1.63 million.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Challenge America support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov. Follow the conversation about this and other NEA‐funded projects on Twitter at #NEAFall2014.

Ticket prices for the King’s Singers range from $23 to $27 with discounts available for students and senior citizens; call 620-327-8158 or visit the Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts website for more information.

The Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts Series, now in its 33rd year, is a collaborative effort of Hesston College and Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) presenting five performances by world-renowned or regionally acclaimed artists each year