During the spring 2017 semester, Hesston College will host talented organists for concerts on the Andover organ at Hesston Mennonite Church. Thanks to funding by the John Ernest Foundation, the concerts, called the Andover Organ Series at Hesston College, will bring another form of fine art to south central Kansas. All concerts are free and open to the public.

The series lineup includes

• Emmanuel Arakélian, Paris, France, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. Born in Avignon, France, Arakélian is a student at the Paris Conservatoire, with emphasis on organ and harpsichord. He is currently on a six-month residency at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, La.
• Kevin J. Vaughn, South Bend, Ind., March 21, at 7 p.m. Vaughn is director of music and organist at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (South Bend), instructor of organ at Goshen (Ind.) College and adjunct professor of piano and organ at the University of Notre Dame (Ind.).
• Shayla Van Hal and Bethan Johnson, April 21, at 7 p.m. Van Hal and Johnson are graduate students at the University of Kansas (Lawrence).

Following each concert will be a reception and a chance for audience members to interact with the performers.

The organ at Hesston Mennonite Church was built by the Andover Organ Company of Methuen, Mass. The company builds and restores mechanical action pipe organs, and since its founding in 1948, has restored more than 500 organs across the United States and built 118 new, including the Opus 116 pipe organ, installed at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus in 2007.