In the News

Hesston College Partnering With Bluestem Communities in Lifelong Learning Program

Hesston College is joining with community partner Bluestem Communities and higher education partner Bethel College in a new lifelong learning venture for residents in the region and beyond. The program, Bluestem U, will launch its inaugural semester in September 2022 hosted by Hesston College and Bluestem Communities’ Schowalter Villa campus.

Bluestem U seeks to provide lifelong learning opportunities for those 55 and better. Some courses will also be available via Zoom so participants outside the area can participate. Bluestem U will launch its inaugural semester in September 2022.

Bluestem U will offer enhanced quality of life through the joy of learning and social interaction. Courses will vary each semester and be taught by former and current instructors from Hesston College and Bethel College and community experts. Course topics will include subjects such as history, creation care, spirituality, psychology, arts, wellness and technology.

“We are excited to offer this program that will open our campuses to the community and to those who want to learn more about specific areas of interest,” said Ariana Kauffman, Bluestem Communities vice president of marketing and communications. “We are looking forward to working in collaboration with our neighbors at Bethel College and Hesston College to create professional and meaningful programs and experiences for the participants.”

Bluestem U kicks off with a Fall 2022 semester hosted by Schowalter Villa and Hesston College, followed by a Spring 2023 semester with Kidron Bethel Village and Bethel College. Each semester will offer several four- to eight-week courses for $50 per semester course. Classes will be held on the Bluestem Communities campuses, and class times may be during the day or evening based on the instructors’ schedules.

For more information about Bluestem U and available courses, visit BluestemU.org or email Learning@BluestemU.org.

Theatergoers of All Ages Invited to Hesston College Production of “The House at Pooh Corner”

Hesston College’s Theatre for Young Audiences program returns to Dyck Arboretum of the Plains April 27 to May 1 to stage “The House at Pooh Corner,” adapted for the stage by Bettye Knappe from the book by A.A. Milne.

“The House at Pooh Corner” finds Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and the rest of the toys gathering in the Hundred Acre Wood. A “Mergency Meeting” has been called to order by the boy, Christopher Robin, who is being sent to a mysterious place called Education. Nobody knows what or where that is, and if the boy is sent there, what can his friends possibly do without him?

“This show is a wonderful mix of college students, Hesston College faculty and staff and community members all working together to create a sweet retelling of the classic Pooh story,” said Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre at Hesston College. “Audiences will experience a concept that is less Disney and truer to the era in which the story was written. Our costumer has done fantastic research to create looks specific to the late 1920s, while the cast is wonderfully capturing the qualities of Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood family.

“The simple message of friendship and the beautiful backdrop of Dyck Arboretum will be enjoyed by absolutely everyone,” Janzti said.

“The House at Pooh Corner” features a run time of approximately 60 minutes, and attendees are invited to bring their own seating arrangements for the arboretum lawn. Curtains for the April 27 to 29 shows open at 6 p.m. Two 2 p.m. matinees are scheduled for April 30 and May 1. The shows will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Tickets are $5 for children and students and $10 for adults. Tickets can be reserved online in advance by calling 620-327-8105.

The cast, in order of appearance, includes:

• Rabbit – Phoebe Kolb, Milford, Neb.
• Kanga – Celaine Worden (Hesston College faculty)
• Roo – Rebecca Shuart (community member)
• Pooh – Malaree Hood (Hesston College staff)
• Piglet – Alexis Driscoll, Sedgwick, Kan.
• Eeyore – Smilla Burklin, Karlsruhle, Germany
• Christopher Robin – Destry Belshe (community member)
• Owl – Heidi Hochstetler (Hesston College faculty)
• Tigger – Josh Fleming, Raymore, Mo.
• Christopher Robin (understudy) – Sienna Belshe (community member)

Hesston College Chorale to “Shine the Light” in Europe and at Home Through Music

The Hesston College Chorale under the direction of Dr. Russell Adrian and Ken Rodgers will present a music program entitled “Shine the Light” at churches in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and France May 17 to June 7, 2022. The choir will perform a send-off concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 13, at Hesston Mennonite Church. A free-will offering will be taken to help offset tour expenses.

The chorale will give twelve concerts in various churches. Tour members will also take in the history and culture of cities such as Amsterdam, Hamburg, Leipzig and Zurich. The trip features visits to important sites in Anabaptist history, as well as visits to important European cathedrals and several world-famous museums. One trip highlight will be a two-day stay in the Swiss Alps. Prior to the trip, chorale members will attend lectures on European history and fine arts by Rodgers. Students will complete written and oral presentations on topics related to the tour.

“We are keenly aware that we’re visiting these communities during times of acute stress,” said Dr. Adrian. “Between the ongoing Covid pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, people are exhausted, worried and fearful. Music can shine light in the midst of that darkness. That’s our hope for this tour.”

The 25-voice mixed ensemble is composed of members of Bel Canto Singers and Global Voices that combine on biennial international tours. The performance will include music from a variety of genres, including spirituals, folk songs and gospel music. Musical interludes will feature soloists and small groups from within the chorale. Tour itinerary, program and livestream link for the home concert can be found at hesston.edu/music.

Hesston College Chorale members include Anna Banman of Lenexa, Kan.; Bethany Masters of Mount Eaton, Ohio; Kelly Miller of Archbold, Ohio; Isaac Tice of Buhler, Kan.; Matthew Manickam and Rachel Teeter of Hesston, Kan.; Alyssa Burkholder of Goessel, Kan.; Meg Beyer, Sam Groff, Luke Huyard, Kara Longenecker, Ginny Miller, Rachel Weaver and Toby Yoder of Harrisonburg, Va.; Alyssa Nolt of Dalton, Ohio; Sadie Oesch of Caldwell, Idaho; Luke Allison of Freeman, S.D.; Jack Shingler of Kidron, Ohio; Jesse Kanagy of Lancaster, Pa.; and Aidan Swartzendruber of Henderson, Neb.

Itinerary

• 
  Friday, May 13, 7 p.m. – Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, Kansas
• Thursday, May 19, 8 p.m. – Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Aalsmeer, Netherlands
• Friday, May 20, 8 p.m. – Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Haarlem, Netherlands
• Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m. – Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Joure, Netherlands
• Sunday, May 22, 1:30 p.m. – Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Joure, Netherlands
• Tuesday, May 24, 8 p.m. – Kreuzkirche Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany
• Wednesday, May 25, 8 p.m. – Probsteikirche Herz Jesu, Lübeck, Germany
• Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m. – Evang. Freikirche Mennonitengemeinde, Ingolstadt, Germany
• Sunday, May 29, 7 p.m. – Evang.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde St. Markus, Ingolstadt, Germany
• Monday, May 30, 8 p.m. – Alttäufergemeinde, Emmental, Switzerland
• Tuesday, May 31, 8 p.m. – Reformierte Kirche, Wattenwil, Switzerland
• Wednesday, June 1, 8 p.m. – Reformierte Kirche, Amsoldingen, Switzerland
• Saturday, June 4, 8 p.m. – Église Évangélique Mennonite du Petit-Val/Evangelische Mennonitengemeinde Kleintal, Moron, Switzerland
• Sunday, June 5, 5:00 p.m. – Église Évangélique Mennonite de Pfastatt, Mulhouse, France

Hesston College Summer Theatre Will Offer a Weeklong Residential Camp for 2022

Hesston College’s summer musical theatre camp will feature a new format in summer 2022. Aspiring actors and tech crew members ages 11 to 18 will stay in the dorms June 13 to 18 while participating in an immersive production schedule culminating in a Saturday matinee performance of the musical “The Addams Family.”

The weeklong overnight theatre camp replaces the two-week day camp with the goal to more fully immerse students in the theatre process. Mornings and afternoons will feature rehearsals and tech preparations. In the evenings campers will stay in the dorms and participate in activities including movie premiere night, variety show, a pool party, ultimate game night and more.

Over the last several years, Hesston College’s Summer Theatre Camp has become a popular summer event for high school and junior high students. In the year prior to the pandemic, the camp drew its largest enrollment with more than 40 participants who staged the musical, “School House Rock Live!”. During the summer of 2020, the camp was adapted for pandemic circumstances and staff worked with campers individually and produced a smaller showcase. Last year, much of the pre-pandemic camp format returned but with a smaller cast and crew staging “The Jungle Book” for an open air audience of more than 200.

This year the show selected is the family friendly musical comedy, “The Addams Family.” The show revisits the kooky characters from the classic TV show and exposes the “wackiness that can be found in every family.”

The 2022 summer theatre camp will start with 9 a.m. check in the morning of June 13 and end with a 2 p.m. matinee performance for family, friends and the community June 18. Rehearsals and meals will be in Keim Center with dorming campers staying in Kauffman Court on the Hesston College campus. Evening activities will occur on campus or within the town of Hesston. Camp staff and participants will follow appropriate health guidelines for Covid for the duration of the camp through the final performance.

Hesston College Director of Theatre Rachel Jantzi will direct and design the show, oversee staff and all camp programming. Director of Choral Activities Russell Adrian will lead voice and instrumental sessions, set up sound as well accompany for the final performance. Additional staff will choreograph, lead in areas of costuming and set building and supervise the campers overnight.

“This is sure to bring about a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork beyond anything we’ve seen,” said Jantzi. “I was a program director for a large camp in Connecticut for many years and it was incredible. There are friendships that can form so quickly in a week’s time and when you combine that with the shared interest of theatre, it makes a lifelong, positive impact.

“We are also hoping, with it being a sleep-away camp, we can bring in students from farther away who haven’t had the opportunity – for whatever reason- to drive back and forth for a traditional day camp,” Jantzi continued. “This will be an exciting test of interest. We hope to offer something bigger and better to the students who have been coming for years while also expanding our reach, and we will continue to offer those who are excited about acting, singing, dancing, building shows and running tech a serious chance to work and shine as a company member in musical theatre.”

Registration is $295 per person and $275 for each additional child from the immediate family. This includes room and daily meals for 6 days and 5 nights, all theatre materials – script and score, guide vocal tracks – and full evening programming and events. For those who only wish to participate during the morning and afternoon theatre sessions along with lunch, the cost is $245.

Questions? Contact Rachel Jantzi at rachelj@hesston.edu, 620-327-8142.

Organist and Baritone Duo to Present Concert for Sunflower Performing Arts Series

In collaboration with the Andover Organ Series, organist Kevin Vaughn and baritone Stephen Lancaster will close the 2021-22 Sunflower Performing Arts season with a program of sacred songs on Sunday, March 27 at 3 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church.

The program will feature music from the married duo’s 2018 album “Sacred Song,” which centers on composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Five Mystical Songs.” Vaughn and Lancaster will be joined by Hesston College’s Bel Canto Singers.

“This collaboration between Sunflower Performing Arts and the Andover Organ Series is a unique opportunity to hear the organ with a solo singer,” said Ken Rodgers, music professor at Hesston College. “The approach that Kevin Vaughn and Stephen Lancaster take to finding a balance between organ and voice is exhilarating.”

“The Andover organ is a magnificent instrument, and we are thrilled to hear artists as talented as Vaughn and Lancaster making music with it,” Rodgers said.

Vaughn is Director of Music and Organist at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in South Bend, Ind., and performs nationally and internationally as a solo concert artist. Vaughn teaches organ literature in the Graduate Program in Sacred Music and is the assistant director for doctoral studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Lancaster is an accomplished concert baritone and has been featured as a soloist in venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall, and Centro Cultural de Belém, as well as performing with ensembles such as EXIGENCE and Conspirare. He is associate professor and head of the Graduate Voice Studio at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.

Single ticket prices for the final Sunflower Performing Arts concert of the 2021-22 season range from $23 to $27, depending on seating section, with discounts available to students and senior citizens. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 620-327-8158. Audience members will be required to wear a mask, according to current Hesston College guidelines.

Hesston College Management and Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Programs Get Boost With Incentives

A generous donation from an anonymous donor makes it possible for management and engineering students at Hesston College to save money while pursuing their degrees.

The one-time gift will benefit up to twenty junior students apiece in Hesston College’s Schools of Engineering and Management during the 2022-23 school year.

For the first twenty junior students enrolling in the newly created School of Engineering, the donor-backed incentive will cover room and board expenses during the upcoming school year, a nearly $10,000 value per student. The room and board incentive is designed to further incentivize enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program that boasts a unique focus on mechatronics, a field of engineering that combines mechanics, electronics and computers to create simpler and smarter systems.

For the first twenty juniors enrolled in Hesston College’s School of Management during the 2022-23 school year, the donated funds will cover travel expenses for domestic and international trips. Members of the 2021-22 junior class in the School of Management will also have their previous travel expenses covered. As with the School of Engineering incentive, the value of this incentive comes to roughly $10,000.

“With these incentives, Hesston College students can pursue their interests and passions for less,” said Dr. Rachel Swartzendruber Miller, vice president of advancement at Hesston College. “Because of the incredible generosity of this anonymous donor, engineering and management students will have one more compelling reason to pursue their bachelor’s degree at Hesston College.”

Bel Canto Singers Spring Break Tour Includes Concerts in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kansas

Hesston College Bel Canto Singers will travel east for a spring break tour March 13 to 22 with performances in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The 18-voice mixed chamber choir, under the direction of Dr. Russell Adrian, will present a program entitled “Deep Peace.” The program is inspired by this year’s theme verse at Hesston College, Ephesians 4:2-3, in which Paul calls Christians to lift each other up in community: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” The concert features a cappella and accompanied works with special music by soloists and small ensembles.

In some locations, the Bel Canto concert will be a collaboration with choirs from local Mennonite high schools.

The tour itinerary includes:

• 
  Sunday, March 13, 10:30 a.m., Lindale Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va.
• Sunday, March 13, 4 p.m., Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va.
• Monday, March 14, Shalom Christian Academy, Chambersburg, Pa.
• Monday, March 14, 7 p.m. Landisville Mennonite Church, Landisville, Pa.
• Tuesday, March 15, Lancaster Mennonite School, Lancaster, Pa.
• Tuesday, March 15, 7 p.m Ridgeview Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa., with Lancaster Mennonite School Chorale
• Wednesday, March 16, Dock Mennonite Academy, Lansdale, Pa.
• Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m. Franconia Mennonite Church, Telford, Pa.
• Thursday, March 17, 7 p.m., Sonnenberg Mennonite Church, Kidron, Ohio, with Central Christian Varsity Singers
• Friday, March 18, Central Christian High School, Kidron, Ohio
• Friday, March 18, 7 p.m., Zion Mennonite Church, Archbold, Ohio
• Tuesday, March 22, 7 p.m., Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, Kan. Audience members may also join via livestream

The 2021-22 academic year marks the 38th season for the Bel Canto Singers, Hesston College’s premiere 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. These performance opportunities cultivate leadership skills that serve students well in their next steps of life. Recent juried appearances have included performances for VOCES8, Chanticleer, the King’s Singers, Charles Bruffy and the Rose Ensemble.

Bel Canto members include Anna Banman of Lenexa, Kan.; Bethany Masters of Mount Eaton, Ohio; Kelly Miller of Archbold, Ohio; Isaac Tice of Buhler, Kan.; Rachel Teeter of Hesston, Kan.; Alyssa Burkholder of Goessel, Kan.; Meg Beyer, Kara Longenecker, Ginny Miller, Luke Huyard and Sam Groff of Harrisonburg, Va.; Alyssa Nolt of Dalton, Ohio; Sadie Oesch of Caldwell, Idaho; Luke Allison of Freeman, S.D.; Jack Shingler of Kidron, Ohio; Abraham Cadillo Quispe of Yokohama, Japan; Jesse Kanagy of Lancaster, Pa.; and Aidan Swartzendruber of Henderson, Neb.

Sunflower Performing Arts Series to Host British Vocal Ensemble Voces8

Sunflower Performing Arts at Hesston College will host acclaimed British vocal ensemble Voces8 on February 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Based in the United Kingdom, this world-famous vocal octet will present a program titled “Choral Dances” which explores the interweaving of dance and music through the ages. The program will adeptly entwine various styles, refusing to follow the standard chronological ordering of music within a concert.

“Voces8 is in high demand as one of the most well-respected vocal ensembles in the world,” said Dr. Holly Swartzendruber, Hesston College music professor and director of Sunflower Performing Arts. “They last performed here in 2016 and we are thrilled to have them back. The program we will hear highlights the group’s masterful ability to span time and genre, and we look forward to a wonderful evening of music with this virtuosic ensemble.”

The members of Voces8 will also conduct a Vocal Leadership Workshop at Hesston College for area high school students. Schools are invited to bring up to eight students. Following the workshop, all students will rehearse the song “Underneath the Stars” and then break into small groups to rehearse and present an informal mini-performances. Voces8 will also conduct a masterclass with Bel Canto Singers, the top choir at Hesston College, as part of the afternoon’s educational outreach.

Tickets may be purchased in person at the door or at the Hesston College bookstore. Masks are required for this event.
 

Hesston College to Present the Well-Loved Musical, James and the Giant Peach, March 2 to 6

Hesston College Performing Arts will present five performances of James and the Giant Peach, March 2 through 6. Music and lyrics are by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and the book is by Timothy Allen McDonald, based on Roald Dahl’s story of quirky characters.

The musical follows Dahl’s 1961 children’s book, which traces the life of the orphan, James Trotter. After leaving the orphanage to live with his two horrible aunts, he discovers a peach growing outside. As the peach grows, he soon ventures inside it, befriending five interesting insects. Through a series of odd adventures, James gains an unexpected, unconventional understanding of what it means to be a family.

“The idea of creating a loving home is a wonderful thing, but for some, who you call family can also be by choice and that resonates with many people, including our cast and production team,” said director Rachel Jantzi. “This story is about surrounding yourself with those you love and who love you back…through pain and joy, they stay by your side.

“This musical has an incredible score that was written by the same men who wrote the music and lyrics for The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Dear Evan Hanson,” Jantzi continued. “The music is challenging, but we have strong performers who have been working hard to bring this show to life.

“A fun aspect of this show is the massive peach that can comfortably hold six singing and dancing actors, including one small James. Our James is a guest performer, a 10-year-old named Hannah, who has been incredible to work with and has really held her own among these college students. It’s been special watching the kind and encouraging interactions in our rehearsals.”

Cast

Hannah Adrian. . . . .James
Meg Byer. . . . .Ladahlord
Kayla Gunn. . . . .Spiker
Isaac Tice. . . . .Sponge
Kelly Miller. . . . .Spider
Luke Huyard. . . . .Centipede
Josh Fleming. . . . .Grasshopper
Anna Banman. . . . .Ladybug
Bethany Masters. . . . .Earthworm
Phoebe Kolb. . . . .ensemble
Ginny Miller. . . . .ensemble
Minori Fujioka. . . . .ensemble
Madison Higdon. . . . .ensemble

James and the Giant Peach will be shown in the Black Box Theater in Keim Center. Shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, through Saturday, March 5, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Tickets ($12 adults, $5 students) are available at the Hesston College Bookstore, 620-327-8104.

Audience will be required to wear masks. Performers who are fully vaccinated and tested will perform without masks.