Bel Canto Singers to tour Colorado, collaborate with Moundridge High School

2022-23 Hesston College Bel Canto Singers
Posted on by Larry Bartel

Hesston College Bel Canto Singers will travel to Colorado for a fall tour October 14 to 16. The 18-voice mixed chamber choir, under the direction of Dr. Russell Adrian, will present a program titled “God Is Love,” inspired by I John 4:7-8, this year’s theme verse at Hesston College. The program will feature a wide range of genres, including selections by music professor Dr. Holly Swartzendruber.

A home concert will be held on Tuesday, October 18, featuring special guests Dr. Carren Moham, soprano, and the Moundridge High School Mixed Chorus, directed by Daniel Chisham. Dr. Adrian has attended several rehearsals at Moundridge High School this semester in preparation for the concert.

“Making music with local communities is so life-giving as we emerge from COVID restrictions,” said Dr. Adrian. “The students in Moundridge have been tremendous to work with, and I am looking forward to our ensembles performing together.”

The choral exchange will include two performances, beginning with a school assembly in Moundridge during the first week of October followed by the fall tour concert at Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston.

The tour itinerary includes:

  • Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m., Rocky Mountain Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Relief Sale, Rocky Ford, Colo.
  • Sunday, Oct. 16, 9:30 a.m., Beth-El Mennonite Church, Colorado Springs, Colo.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m., Whitestone Mennonite Church, Hesston, Kan. with special guests Dr. Carren Moham and Moundridge High School Mixed Chorus

The 2022-23 academic year marks the 39th season for the Bel Canto Singers, Hesston College’s premier choral ensemble. Bel Canto Singers allows students from a broad spectrum of majors to make music an important part of their college experience. The group carries out ambitious concert and touring schedules annually. Members include Kelly Miller of Archbold, Ohio; Daniel Miller of Arlington, Kan.; Sadie Oesch of Caldwell, Idaho; Luke Allison of Freeman, S.D.; Alyssa Burkholder of Goessel, Kan.; Meg Beyer, Luke Huyard, Kara Longenecker, Ginny Miller and Eli Stoll of Harrisonburg, Va.; Rachel Weaver of Broadway, Va.; Aidan Swartzendruber of Henderson, Neb.; Anna-Joy Jones of Lockhart, Texas; Marinocean Joynathan Widjaja of Bintaro, Indonesia; Andrew Miller of Kidron, Ohio; Jack Shingler of Creston, Ohio; Jesse Kanagy of Lancaster, Pa.; and Abraham Cadillo Quispe of Yokohama, Japan.