The music programs at Hesston High School (HHS) and Hesston College (HC) as well as guest performers – many of whom are dual alumni of both HHS and HC – will present “The Promise of Living” Gala Concert at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. Pre-concert entertainment will feature the Hesston High School Jazz Band beginning at 7:40 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.

The concert features a wide variety of genres and performances groups in both vocal and instrumental mediums. Other featured ensembles from Hesston High School include the Singers, Chorale and Concert Choir. Hesston College’s featured ensembles include Bel Canto Singers, Orchestra and the Men’s and Women’s Choruses.

Alumni and community member musicians are invited to perform “The Promise of Living” piece by Aaron Copland along with the college and high school student performers. Chorus members and instrumentalists will rehearse from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 1. Go to hesston.edu/promiseofliving to register to perform, or contact director Russell Adrian at russell.adrian@hesston.edu.

Guest performers include:
• Talashia Keim Yoder (Goshen, Ind.), a graduate of HHS in 2000 and HC in 2002, she is in her 13th year as theatre director at Bethany Christian High School (Goshen), and she is also pastor at College Mennonite Church (Goshen).
• Joel Garber (Norman, Okla.), a graduate of HHS in 2002 and HC in 2004, he is a D.M.A. candidate in choral conducting at the University of Oklahoma (Norman), and serves as administrative assistant for choral activities and conductor of the OU Chamber Singers.
• Jordan Brunk (Kansas City, Mo.), a graduate of HHS in 2004 and a member of the Hesston College class of 2006, excelled as a member of the Hesston High School Singers and Hesston College Bel Canto Singers, earning multiple scholarships at HC and the University of Kansas (Lawrence), and placing first in freshmen men’s classical division in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Central Regional Competition in 2005.
• Tara Hershberger (Portland, Ore.), a graduate of HHS in 2004 and HC in 2006, teaches acting classes at the Northwest Children’s Theatre and School (Portland).
• Ken Rodgers (Hesston), a graduate of HHS in 1983 and HC in 1985, he has been on the Hesston College music faculty since 1988 where he conducts the Men’s and Women’s Choruses and teaches organ and music appreciation classes.
• Anthony Brown (Pittsburgh, Pa.), is a former Hesston College social science faculty member and artist in residence. He is an internationally acclaimed baritone and promoter of peace and goodwill around the world.