In the News

Accomplished piano soloist and instructor to give faculty lecture recital

Hesston College piano instructor Dr. Mei Li, a dynamic pianist who was born in Chengdu, China, to a musical family, will present a lecture recital, “The Key Characteristics of Franz Liszt’s Late Piano Works,” at 7 p.m., Monday, March 18, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

Dr. Li is a Liszt scholar who completed her doctoral research on the works of Liszt’s late period under the direction of distinguished Liszt authority, Alan Walker. Her recital will be a presentation of a group of piano music of Liszt’s final period and discussion of two main categories – death and despair – into which Liszt’s late works often fall.

“As a pianist and composer, Franz Liszt was a major figure in European music history,” said Li. “He made some innovations in tonality, key characteristic and other aspect in his late piano works, which brought a new concept of style to the music. All of these essential changes were big influence and inspiration to future composers.”

Adding to her Liszt expertise, Li is a member of the American Liszt Society and serves on the University of Kansas (Lawrence) board of the American Liszt Society Chapter.

Dr. Li came to teach at Hesston College in August 2018, instructing pianists of all skill levels in the keyboard art. With a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree from the University of Kansas in May 2018, Li brings to Hesston a high level of piano instruction and a passion for piano pedagogy.

Li began studying piano in China at the age of five, eventually becoming the apprentice of the famous Chinese piano pedagogue, Zhaoyi Dan. At the age of 12, she entered the affiliated middle school of Sichuan Conservatory of Music to continue her rigorous and professional piano study.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Sichuan Conservatory of Music and working as a teaching assistant for Professor Dan for four years, Li came to the United States in 2006 with a full scholarship to study at Northern Illinois University (NIU, DeKalb) under Dr. William Goldenberg. She earned a performance certificate and a master’s degree in piano performance from NIU.

Li has studied with renowned American professors Jack Weinrock and concert artist Steven Spooner, and studied piano pedagogy with the noted American expert on piano methods, Scott McBride Smith.

As an active pianist and soloist in China, Li performed at major venues including the Hong Kong Concert Hall, Guangzhou Xinghai Concert Hall and the Shenzhen Concert Hall. Over the last 12 years in the United States, Li has performed as a soloist at the World Conference on Women in Chicago, at the renowned Chicago Cultural Center, and Carnegie Hall in New York City. She is CEO and co-founder of the Chicago International Music Competition and Festival, which in its first year in 2018 hosted 70 participants from all over the world. She was recently invited to perform and give master classes in Mexico, as well as participate at the American Liszt Society National Festival.

Author to visit campus with moving story of Holocaust survivor

Author Nancy Sprowell Geise will visit Hesston College on Tuesday, April 2, to share the remarkable story of Holocaust survivor Joe Rubinstein, which she wrote about in her book Auschwitz #34207: The Joe Rubinstein Story (2015). The event will be at 7 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus, and is open to the public.

A reception sponsored by Hesston Public Library and Hesston United Methodist Church following the presentation will offer audience members a chance to meet Geise.

Geise, who lives in Topeka, met Rubinstein when they both lived in Colorado. Geise learned that Rubinstein, who was born in Poland, was a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp as well as others during World War II, but he told her he would never speak publically of the experiences he endured there. Five years later he changed his mind.

Rubinstein, now 98 years old, was 21 when Nazi soldiers took him from his home along with his widowed mother and two siblings. Geise’s recounting of his story shares the atrocities he faced over the next three years until the end of the war.

Of particular note in Geise’s writing, is that Rubinstein did not let the pain, torture and horrors he faced as a prisoner define his life, but rather chose to find joy and rise above the evil he endured.

Following the book’s release in 2015, Auschwitz #34207 earned the top spot on the Amazon Bestseller list in the Holocaust Memoirs (Kindle) category, and has garnished high praise from leading Holocaust scholars, national reviewers and readers.

Geise has traveled the country sharing Rubinstein’s story, including at the U.S. Library of Congress and as the keynote presentation of the 2016 State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration Service.

Find further information about Auschwitz #34207 and Geise.

First CNA course in Hesston creates new opportunities for community partners

This spring, the school week looks a little different for 10 Hesston High students who are taking a Certified Nursing Assistant class (CNA) through Hesston College in a new partnership between the college and the high school.

It was easy for the neighboring institutions to recognize the other as a natural partnership opportunity. The high school has the student candidates that are often interested in CNA training and job options, while the college offers a highly-respected nursing program in an area rich with care facilities and CNA positions. Everyone was interested in meeting the needs and interests of students in the community.

“The conversation started between me and Denise Goevert [HHS business teacher] informally more than a year ago,” said Becky Bartell, director of Hesston College’s nursing program. “Denise was familiar with our strong nursing program and I was looking at ways to engage with Hesston High School to keep students local rather than them having to travel out of town for CNA classes.”

Through discussions and planning among college and high school faculty and administrators, as well as consultation with Schowalter Villa, Hesston College put together a CNA training course approved by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and Hesston High filled it with students.

It is truly a community effort for community gain.

For an hour or two three mornings a week, nine Hesston High juniors and one senior are on the Hesston College campus to learn the policies and practices that are part of the CNA job.

“CNAs provide the most direct care in nursing home facilities, so it’s important for them to have high quality education that promotes dignity in those they care for,” said course instructor and Hesston College Nursing faculty member Erin Hershberger, who herself is a graduate of both Hesston High School and Hesston College. “These students are learning the nuances of holistic patient care and understanding that it’s not just a job – what we do is important.”

The students are pleased to have a program that offers them the training and opportunities they are looking for and that have an immediate impact. By the end of the semester they will have four and a half hours of college credit and the knowledge they need to pass the licensing exam and then secure jobs just in time for summer break. For those interested in the nursing field, they will also have good experience and insight into their future careers.

Hesston High junior Hailey Waltner has worked at Schowalter Villa as a dietary assistant for a few months. As she has seen CNAs at work, she knew she would enjoy the work and that it would also be a benefit to her.

“I’m planning to major in nursing, and I knew getting my CNA license would be a good first step into the nursing field,” Waltner said. “I’m learning a lot of new things in a short amount of time which is really good preparation.”

For the first few months of the course, the students have been doing their clinical lab work on campus in the college’s nursing simulation lab. Later in the semester the clinicals will expand to working with residents at Schowalter Villa.

In the first six weeks, all of the parties are pleased with the partnership outcomes and plan to have it become an ongoing opportunity.

“This will be a once per year opportunity for Hesston High juniors and seniors, but we do hope to also expand the class to on-campus Hesston College students and other community members in the future,” said Bartell. “Ultimately it’s about trying to keep our kids local and engaged in the community.”

Hesston College marked as national tour stop for event focused on peaceful resolutions to gun violence

Social justice activist, speaker and author, Shane Claiborne, and Mennonite pastor turned blacksmith, Mike Martin, will make Hesston College one of their stops on the 37-city “Beating Guns” tour at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 21, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

Inspired by the biblical prophets’ call to “beat swords into plowshares,” the free 90-minute event weaves music, art and stories of people impacted by gun violence, culminating with an invitation for the audience to take the hammer and transform a gun into garden tools.

Those planning to attend the event, which is being presented by Hesston College’s Melva Kauffman Lecture Series, are asked to register for free.

The national Beating Guns Tour is born from Claiborne and Martin’s commentary and offer of hope through their book, Beating Guns: Hope for People Who are Weary of Violence, which will be published March 5. Claiborne and Martin offer a Christian response to the gun violence crisis, transcending the rhetoric of “thoughts and prayers” with concrete ways to address the problem.

Claiborne and Martin build their case with a revealing overview of the history of guns and gun marketing in America, alarming statistics, and stories of devastated lives and restorative justice. They debunk common myths and offer ideas for common sense change.

Beating Guns will be available through major booksellers. The duo have also launched the Disarming Network to help people connect with safe spaces to disable guns according to Federal ATF guidelines.

Claiborne is a prominent speaker, activist and best-selling author. He worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks who are committed to living “as if Jesus meant the things he said.” His books include Jesus for President, Executing Grace, Red Letter Revolution, and his classic The Irresistible Revolution. He has been featured in a number of films including Another World Is Possible and Ordinary Radicals.

Martin is the founder and executive director of RAWtools, which partners with communities in an effort to repurpose weapons for creative and productive uses. A former Mennonite pastor, Mike learned to blacksmith in order to turn guns into garden tools and is passionate about connecting people to nonviolent skills like restorative justice and conflict mediation. He is trained for restorative justice facilitation and encourages everyone to explore how they can connect to similar efforts in their community. Mike is licensed for specialized ministry in Mountain States Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. He blogs at RAWtools.org.

New scholarship to benefit Bible and ministry students

Students with a call to pursue Bible or ministry at Hesston College will have the opportunity to benefit from the newly established Leo and Dorothy Miller Bible and Ministry Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship was established in memory of the couple who dedicated their lives to ministry.

Leo, a 1950 Hesston College graduate, and Dorothy (Gingerich) Miller, a 1946 graduate of Hesston Academy and a 1949 graduate of Hesston College, met at Hesston College, and after marrying in 1950, began ministry together at Eureka Gardens in Wichita, Kan., where they served for 16 years.

The Millers moved their family to Elkhart, Ind., where Leo completed a master’s of divinity degree at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. In 1969, they accepted a pastorate at Friendship Mennonite Church in Bedford, Ohio.

Much of Dorothy’s career was spent as a librarian in public schools, yet she always found time to assist and support Leo in his ministry. She earned a bachelor’s degree in library science from Friends University (Wichita) in 1962, then a master’s in library science from Case Western Reserve (Cleveland, Ohio).

Leo passed away in 2014, and Dorothy died in January 2018. Two of their four daughters, Jenell (Miller) Ulrich and Rhonda (Miller) Savage, also graduated from Hesston College.

Additional contributions to The Leo and Dorothy Miller Bible and Ministry Scholarship Fund may be made by contacting the Hesston College Advancement Office at 866-437-7866 or online.

To discuss ways to support Hesston College with a legacy gift, contact Vice President of Advancement, Byron Rupp, J.D., at byron.rupp@hesston.edu

Armida Quartet to present a re-imagined Mozart in HBPA concert

With an innovative approach to the classical-style of Mozart, the Berlin-based string ensemble, Armida Quartet, will take the Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts (HBPA) stage at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

The quartet will present “Mozart Exploded,” which re-envisions Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as a young, radical and modern composer by juxtaposing Mozart’s classical pieces with those by contemporary composers. This musical conversation will be supplemented by readings from letters written by Mozart and his father, Leopold Mozart.

HBPA season ticket holders are invited to a come and go pie reception in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center from 6:15 to 7:15, prior to the concert. The 2019-20 HBPA season will be unveiled during the reception. Single ticket holders may attend the pie reception at an additional cost of $5.

Founded in 2006, Armida Quartet adopted its name from an opera by Joseph Haydn, “father of the string quartet.” The quartet features Martin Funda and Johanna Staemmler on violin, Teresa Schwamm on viola and Peter-Philipp Staemmler on cello.

Armida Quartet’s popularity and recognition took off in 2012 after winning first prize at the ARD International Competition, the largest international classical music competition in Germany.

Since that time, the ensemble has recorded five albums, was selected to the “Rising Stars” ranks of the European Concert Hall Organization (ECHO) for its 2016-17 season, and has performed extensively throughout Europe.

Frequent collaboration with other musicians is a priority for the Armida Quartet. They studied with members of well-known quartets for many years, such as Hagen Quartet and the Artemis Quartet, and have worked with solo artists as well. Each of the musicians has taught chamber music at the Berlin University of the Arts.

Reserved seating and general admission tickets for Armida Quartet range from $18 to $27 with discounts available for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 620-327-8105 or in person at the Hesston College Bookstore in Erb Hall or Bethel College’s Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center during regular business hours.

Started in 1982 as Hesston Performing Arts, the series expanded in 1998 when Hesston College joined forces with Bethel College for The Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts series. The series presents five performances by world-renowned or regionally acclaimed artists each year. HBPA is funded in part by the city of North Newton, Excel Industries and Hustler Turf Equipment (Hesston), the North Newton Community Foundation and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Area businesses and patrons provide additional funding for the HBPA series.

Third season of Andover Organ Series kicks off with Dutch performer

The third season of the Andover Organ Series at Hesston College will launch with an recital by Dutch organist Marco bij de Vaate at 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, at Hesston Mennonite Church. The concert, funded by the John Ernest Foundation, is free and open to the public.

Bij de Vaate is the organist at the Doopsgezinde Kerk (Mennonite Church) of Haarlem, the Netherlands. He is a graduate of the Amsterdam Conservatory, and a past winner of the Prix d’Excellence – a top prize of excellence for organ performance. Among bij de Vaate’s teachers were two important Dutch organists, Klaas Bolt and Piet Kee.

In addition to his work as a church musician, bij de Vaate gives private lessons and is active as a concert performer, including concerts throughout Europe. A specialist in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, he is featured in the 2010 CD, “Back in the Doopsgezinde Kerk, Haarlem.”

The Andover Organ Series at Hesston College is funded by the John Ernest Foundation and features organists from around the world. Andover organs are 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 U.S., as well as building new instruments, including the Opus 116 pipe organ installed at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus in 2007.

The musical of mythical proportions to take the Keim Center stage

Recounting the tender, dynamic and familiar story of the parent-child relationship, Hesston College Theatre will present five performances of the musical Big Fish, Feb. 27 to March 3, in the Hesston College Keim Center Black Box Theatre.

Showtimes are at 7 p.m., Feb. 27 to March 2, and 2 p.m., on Sunday, March 3. Tickets are $10 for adults and seniors and $5 for students. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended as seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased online at hesston.edu/big-fish-tix or at the Hesston College Bookstore in Erb Hall during regular business hours or by calling 620-327-8105. Big Fish is a family-friendly musical for all ages.

Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a man in failing health, and his son, Will, who doesn’t believe the larger-than-life stories his father recounts of his extraordinary life. As Edward continues to decline, Will tries to find the truth behind the tall tales, putting a strain on their relationship. Will must decide to accept his father’s stories or risk losing him completely.

“This show is so relatable and so touching,” said director Rachel Jantzi. “In showing a father’s desire to reach his son, it weaves fantasy with the storytelling parents create to build relationship with their children.”

Written by John August with music by Andrew Lippa, Big Fish is adapted from the 1998 novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace, and the 2003 movie adaptation of the same name.

Jantzi notes that with its traditional style, Big Fish carries a different feel than many of her past Hesston College productions, and also creates more spectacle.

“Big Fish is a classical-feeling musical,” said Jantzi. “It’s a bright, fun show. There are werewolves, seven-foot giants, a mermaid, witches, dancing and more, but in the end, it also shows us that fantasy and reality may not be that far apart.”

The lead character, Edward, played by sophomore Therin Smith (Key West, Fla.) moves seamlessly between past and present time periods. The role of Will as a grown man who is anticipating the birth of his first child, is played by freshman Tanner DeGrado (Newton, Kan.), and sophomore Leah Huyard (Harrisonburg, Va.) plays Edward’s steadfast wife, Sandra. Making his theatre debut in the role of Will as a child is 10-year-old community student, Alex Gale.

“Never has a show hit me so hard emotionally and intimidated me in wanting to bring it to life in the way it deserves,” said Jantzi. “I have had so much fun with it and I’m really excited at what this group of students is doing with it. The cast is one of the most positive and hard-working groups I have had. They love the show and the characters, too, but they’re also recognizing the parent-child relationship and having realizations of what their parents have handed down to them.”

Hesston and Bethel choirs to present joint concert

Hesston College and Bethel College will join together for a collaborative musical event at 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 17, at Tabor Mennonite Church (891 Chisholm Trail Rd, rural Newton). The concert is free and open to the public.

Featuring the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers under the direction of Dr. Russell Adrian, and the Bethel College Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. William Eash, the program, entitled “How Firm a Foundation,” will feature the choirs individually and combined, and will also include hymn singing with the audience.

Both choirs are the premiere vocal ensembles at their respective institutions, maintaining annual travel schedules in the region and nationally. The Bethel College Concert Choir will perform a repertoire they are preparing for the annual Kansas Music Educators Association conference at the end of the month. The Hesston College Bel Canto Singers will perform from their 2018-19 repertoire entitled “Grant Us Peace.”