Playwriting festival returns for second year with eight original plays
Theater
After positive reactions towards Hesston College’s first “Pen to Paper to Performance” playwriting festival in 2017, the event is continuing for a second year under the coordination of Theatre Director Rachel Jantzi.
Jantzi chose eight original plays from a large number of submissions that will be featured in the final showcase at 7 p.m., April 27 and 28, in the Keim Center Black Box Theatre on the Hesston College campus.
“I’m excited because the scripts are so varied,” Jantzi said. “The actors are truly being stretched to meet the needs of eight different shows. They have impressed me and I am looking forward to the audience getting to experience that with us.”
The featured plays in the final showcase are:
- Born Again by Carol Duerksen
- First Date by Travis Duerksen and Mitchell Stutzman
- Goodnight, Washington by Patricia Middleton
- Small Cups of Coffee by Dave Osborne
- Classified by Lois Thieszen Preheim
- An Empty Classroom by Jamie Rhodes
- How the Octopus Got His Legs by André Swartley
- Chapter Fourteen by Caitlin Waits
A simplistic set will build cohesion between the eight contrasting shows, and sophomore theatre major Mariah Trible will direct two of the shows alongside Jantzi. A single ensemble of 13 actors, each taking on several different roles, will bring the shows to life.
“I am honored that these playwrights trust us to tell their stories,” Jantzi said. “Even if it may not be how they envisioned it as they wrote, they were brave enough to let it go and trust someone else with their words. That is a courageous act.”
Prior to the show on Friday, April 27, beginning at 6:30, there will be a 30-minute performance by On A Lark, Hesston’s improv comedy troupe led by freshman Colton Adams (Wichita, Kan.).
Final organ concert in series to feature Kansas graduate students
Music
The final concert in the 2017-18 Andover Organ Series hosted by Hesston College will feature two doctoral students from the University of Kansas (Lawrence). Tyler Boehmer and Rob Hobgood will perform music by Bach, Buxtehude, Vierne and Reger at 7 p.m., Friday, April 20, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.
This concert continues to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the installation of the Andover Organ at Hesston Mennonite Church. The concert is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the concert in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center.
Competitive in world organ competitions from a young age, Boehmer earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah). Upon completion of his graduate and doctoral degrees, he plans to remain active as a performer and teacher.
Originally from Raleigh, N.C., Rob Hobgood received a bachelor of music degree in church music and organ performance from Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, Ga.). Hobgood then completed a master of music degree in sacred music from Westminster Choir College of Rider University (Princeton, N.J.). He is now pursuing a doctorate of musical arts degree in church music with concentrations in organ performance and choral conducting, studying Michael Bauer.
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 United States, as well as building new instruments, including the Opus 116 pipe organ, installed at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus in 2007.
Funded by the John Earnest Foundation, the Andover Organ Series at Hesston College features organists from around the world.
Faculty recital to highlight seasoned piano instructor
Music
Serving as adjunct instructor of piano at Hesston College, pianist J. Bradley Baker will perform a faculty recital at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The recital is free and open to the public.
Fellow musicians Jen Stephenson and Betul Soykan will join Baker for some pieces. Stephenson, a soprano performance vocalist, will sing some Rachmaninoff songs, while Soykan, assistant professor of violin at Wichita (Kan.) State University, will play the Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata and join Baker in playing Rachmaninoff solo piano repertoire.
Baker’s solo performances have taken him throughout the United States and Canada and have been aired on public radio stations in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
In addition to his role at Hesston, Baker is the collaborative pianist and vocal coach and director of the Music Preparatory School at Tabor College (Hillsboro, Kan.). As the director, he leads a group of expert faculty in the music education of pre-college youth in Central Kansas.
Baker also serves as executive director and music director and coach for Music On Site, Inc., a new opera company based in Central Kansas.
Baker earned a doctorate of musical arts degree in piano performance from the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa), a master of music degree in piano performance from the Cleveland (Ohio) Institute of Music, and a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from North Dakota State University (Fargo).
Alumni and friends Goshen, Ind., event gives glimpse into capital enhancements
General
On the evening of April 10, more than 60 Hesston College alumni and friends gathered at the Bread and Chocolate venue in Goshen, Ind., to connect with one another and the college, meet new ninth President Joseph A. Manickam, and hear about the the college’s vision for the future.
President Manickam shared about current events at Hesston College, including the capital campaign to provide enhancements to the college’s nursing and athletic facilities. Bonnie Sowers, former director of nursing education (1980-2017) shared about the highly regarded nursing program and how these plans will help improve the student experience.
Included in the nursing portion of the campaign is an addition to the existing facility, Lemons Center, that will be named the Bonnie Sowers Center for Nursing Education, in honor of Sowers many years of service to the college and countless contributions to the nursing program.
Students bring home leadership challenge award
General
The team of five students, who are enrolled in an Adaptive Challenges in Leadership course at Hesston, competed against 10 other teams from colleges in Kansas and surrounding states. Each team member played a role at a fictitious “Central Kansas University” – Director of Student Activities, Residential Life Coordinator, Director of Health Services, Director of University Relations and Dean of Students – and in their team roles, had to investigate allegations of dangerous hazing among members of the university’s marching band, meet with senior members of the university’s administration, formulate response plans and action plans to eliminate future incidents, and present their ideas orally to two judges.
The Hesston team’s efforts earned them the Emerging Leadership Award, which is given to the highest scoring team among those in their first or second year at the event.
“These students weren’t sure what to expect, but they were eager to learn and they worked well together,” said Brent Yoder, instructor of Hesston’s Adaptive Challenges in Leadership Course and vice president of Academics. “This was an adaptive challenge, and they recognized that good leadership in this simulation involved exploring tough interpretations, engaging unusual voices and speaking to loss. They should be proud of the way that they performed, representing Hesston College as five sophomores competing against many large universities.”
Members of the team were sophomores Keegan Cook (Whitewater, Kan.), John Ebaugh (Holtwood, Pa.), Sarah Miller (Freeman, S.D.), Jaelyn Rufenacht (Pettisville, Ohio) and Kyle Stucky (Moundridge, Kan.).
Oesch named new women’s resident director
General
Lorren Oesch, a 2016 Hesston College graduate, has been announced as Hesston College’s new women’s resident director. Oesch will start her new role August 1.
“We are excited to have Lorren on our team and look forward to seeing the impact she will have on our students and campus,” said Juli Winter, dean of students.
As part of Student Development, Oesch’s role as resident director is part of a team of three other resident directors who oversee student life and housing. Resident directors supervise a student staff of resident assistants, assist in maintaining campus lifestyle standards and serve as a role model and mentor for students.
During her time as a Hesston College student, Oesch was a member of Bel Canto Singers and the women’s tennis team. She also served as a resident assistant as a sophomore, providing leadership to her peers in the dorms, and worked for Admissions as a Student Ambassador. Oesch will graduate from Eastern Mennonite University at the end of April with a degree in peacebuilding.
Students to gain new insights into healthy relationships through workshop opportunity
General
College- and high school-age students are invited to learn about creating and maintaining healthy relationships at a free event hosted by Hesston College and Bethel College.
“The Relationship Workshop: How to Have a Healthy Relationship in the Modern World” will be presented by Dr. Joanne Davila, Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Hesston College campus. A lunch break will be held mid-day with dining options in the Hesston College cafeteria or at area restaurants. The cost for brunch for non-Hesston College students can be paid at the door.
The workshop will provide an evidence-based framework for healthy relationships centered on insight, mutuality and emotion regulation. The workshop will teach participants skill on healthy decision-making related to romantic relationships and entering or exiting relationships, successful navigation of issues and potential conflicts that arise in relationships, and strategies for coping with the emotions relationships bring.
Dr. Davila is professor of psychology and director of clinical training in the Department of Psychology at Stony Brook (N.Y.) University.
A group of Hesston College nursing students presented the idea and are planning the day’s events as part of their Population-Based Nursing course, led by nursing professor Duane Miller. In researching possible topics for a class project, they came upon a TEDx event talk of Davila presenting on healthy relationships, and were drawn to its relevance for young adults. Hesston College Dean of Students, Juli Winter, and campus counselor, Julie Lehman, both confirmed that relationship issues are something they see and hear of students struggling with regularly.
Davila will also present in Hesston College forum at 11 a.m., Friday, May 4, at Hesston Mennonite Church.
Registration for the free Saturday workshop can be completed here. Contact duane.miller@hesston.edu with questions.
Playwriting festival to feature eight original plays
General
Theater
Hesston College’s second playwriting festival, “Pen to Paper to Performance,” will feature eight original plays by local writers and produced by Hesston College Theatre, April 27 and 28.
The featured plays and playwrights will be:
- “Born Again” by Carol Duerksen
- “First Date” by Travis Duerksen and Mitchell Stutzman
- “Goodnight, Washington” by Patricia Middleton
- “Small Cups of Coffee” by Dave Osborne
- “Classified” by Lois Thieszen Preheim
- “An Empty Classroom” by Jamie Rhodes
- “How the Octopus Got His Legs” by Andre Swartley
- “Chapter Fourteen” by Caitlin Waits
Each play will run approximately 10 minutes in length at the final showcase at 7 p.m. on April 27 and 28 in the Keim Center Black Box Theater. Tickets are $8 for adults and seniors, and $4 for students. Tickets will be sold at the door only starting at 6:15 each night. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so early arrival is encouraged.
“Ambassador of classical guitar” to bring music to performing arts series
General
Music
The Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts (HBPA) series wraps up the 2017-18 season with a special collaboration among HBPA, the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra and Kansas Paraguay Partners.
The result is a special guest for the April 8 concert: Latin Grammy® Award-nominated guitarist Berta Rojas, who ranks among today’s foremost classical guitarists.
Thomas W. Douglas conducts the concert, at 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall on the Bethel College campus.
Rojas has been praised as “guitarist extraordinaire” by the Washington Post. Classical Guitar magazine called her an “ambassador of the classical guitar.”
She has been nominated three times for Latin Grammy® Awards; for Día y Medio, with Paquito D’Rivera (Best Instrumental Album, 2012); for Salsa Roja (Best Classical Album, 2014); and most recently for Historia del Tango (Best Tango Album, 2015), with the Argentine chamber orchestra Camerata Bariloche.
Rojas’ latest recording, Felicidade (2017), pays tribute to Brazilian music, with guest artists including Gilberto Gil, Toquinho and Ivan Lins.
In her performing and recording, Rojas embraces new works by composers in diverse genres – a journey echoed in recordings such as Cielo Abierto (2006) and Terruño (2009), as well as Alma y Corazón (2007), with Carlos Barbosa-Lima, and the celebrated Intimate Barrios (2008), featuring works by the great Paraguayan composer and guitarist Agustín Barrios.
In 2011, Rojas and D’Rivera initiated the four-year tour “In the Footsteps of Mangoré,” which followed the travels of Barrios, pioneer of the classical guitar in the Americas. The duo performed in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries, finishing at the national theater in San Salvador, El Salvador, where the celebrated composer is buried.
Rojas is firmly committed to promoting the music of her country, Paraguay, as well as Latin American music more widely, and to supporting the careers of young, upcoming guitarists.
With this aim, she created the first online classical guitar competition, the Barrios World Wide Web Competition, in 2009, and was artistic director of the Ibero-American Guitar Festival at the Smithsonian Institution. She also co-founded the Beatty Music Scholarship Competition for Classical Guitar, which offers winners the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
After initial studies in Paraguay with Felipe Sosa and Violeta de Mestral, Rojas studied in Uruguay under Abel Carlevaro, Eduardo Fernández and Mario Payseé, and at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore under Manuel Barrueco, Ray Chester and Julian Gray. She recently joined the faculty of the Berklee College of Music (Boston, Mass.) as an associate professor.
She has performed across the globe at venues from Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center to London’s South Bank Centre, the National Concert Hall in Dublin (with the Irish Radio and Television Orchestra) and Flagey Studio 4 in Brussels (with the Brussels Philharmonic).
Rojas has been ranked among the “most influential women in the Hispanic world,” named a Fellow of the Americas by the Kennedy Center for her artistic excellence, and honored by her country with the title Illustrious Ambassador of Musical Art.
Rojas will give a guitar master class at Hesston College in the Sauder Choral Room in Keim Center, April 6 from 4 to 6 p.m.
She then joins the NMKSO on April 8 for two pieces by Paraguayan composers – “Renacer” by Oscar Cardozo Ocampo and “La Balada del Indio” by Ismael Ledesma, with Rojas’ own arrangement.
She will also be featured in “Concerto de Arunjuez” by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo.
The program includes, in addition, music from Carmen by Georges Bizet and “Danzon No. 2” by Mexican composer Arturo Marquez.
Maestro Douglas is in his seventh season with NMKSO. He is also music director for Music Theatre of Wichita. He is on the faculty at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music and is artistic director and conductor of the Bach Choir, both in Pittsburgh.
There will be a reception following the concert, hosted by Newton Presbyterian Manor, Asbury Park, Bluestem Communities, Comfort Care Homes and Kansas Christian Home.
Tickets for the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra with Berta Rojas, April 8 at 4 p.m., are available at hesstonbethel.org, by calling 620-327-8105, or by visiting the Hesston College Bookstore in Erb Hall or Bethel College’s Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center during regular business hours. Prices ranges from $15 to $20, with some discounts available.
The Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts series is a collaborative effort of Hesston College and Bethel College, presenting five performances by world-renowned or regionally acclaimed artists each year.
HBPA is funded in part by the cities of Hesston and North Newton, Excel Industries and Hustler Turf Equipment, KMUW-Wichita FM 89, the National Endowment for the Arts, and area patrons. Additional funding for this concert comes from Bunting Magnetics of Newton.