Hesston College chorale set to tour Europe over the summer
The melodious sounds of the Hesston College Chorale will travel to Europe for their biennial international tour from May 14 to June 4. Under the direction of Dr. Russell Adrian and Ken Rodgers, the chorale will present a program titled “Veni, Sancte Spiritus” at churches in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The tour will kick off with a farewell concert at 7 p.m., Friday, May 10, at Hesston Mennonite Church. An offering will be taken to help offset tour expenses.
The tour will occur during the season of Pentecost with a program based on Acts 2. Veni, Sancte Spiritus, meaning “come, Holy Spirit,” celebrates the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in many languages. 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. The program and livestream link for the home concert will be available at hesston.edu/music.
The ensemble is composed of students in Bel Canto Singers and Global Voices who collaborate on biennial international tours. Holly Swartzendruber, music professor, and Karen Unruh, accompanist, along with Hesston College alumni, all combine to form this edition of the Hesston College Chorale. Students include Lily Corkill of Olsburg, Kan.; Ana Espinoza of Ocotepeque, Honduras; Hadassa Friesen of Neuland, Paraguay; Joy Jones of Lockhart, Texas.; Jamie Krehbiel and Devin Miller of Hesston, Kan.; Caroline Miller and Daniel Miller of Arlington, Kan.; Eva Perry of Rocky Ford, Colo.; Larry Ruffin of Choctaw, Okla.; Rylee Weishaupt of Goshen, Ind.; and Ashleigh Williams of Eaton, Colo.
The chorale will perform twelve concerts in various churches. Tour members will also take in the history and culture of cities such as Amsterdam, Cologne, Zurich and Rothenburg. The trip features visits to sites in Anabaptist history, exploring European cathedrals, several world-famous museums and 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.
This edition will mark the 20th Hesston College Chorale tour to Europe for trip leader Rodgers. To celebrate, Hesston College alumni have been invited to join the chorale for the first two weeks of the tour. A highlight will be performing at the Doopsgezinde Gemeente in Joure, Netherlands. This year marks the 200th year of their church building and equally impressive is the long standing relationship Hesston College has had with this congregation, hosting a performance on every one of Rodgers’ tours.
Itinerary for Hesston College Chorale’s trip to Europe
- Friday, May 10, 7 p.m. – Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, Kansas
- Thursday, May 16, 8 p.m. – Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Aalsmeer, Netherlands
- Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. – Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Haarlem, Netherlands
- Sunday, May 19, 10 a.m. – Pentecost Festival at Park Heremastate, Joure, Netherlands
- Sunday, May 19, 5 p.m. – Garden Concert, Joure, Netherlands
- Monday, May 20, 7:30 p.m. – Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Joure, Netherlands
- Wednesday, May 22, 7:30 p.m. – Ev. Mennonitengemeinde Neuwied, Neuwied, Germany
- Thursday, May 23, 7:30 p.m. – Evangelische Mennonitengemeinde Schänzli, Basel, Switzerland
- Friday, May 24, 7:30 p.m. – Église Évangélique Mennonite du Petit-Val/Evangelische Mennonitengemeinde Kleintal, Moron, Switzerland
- Saturday, May 25, 7:30 p.m. – Alttäufergemeinde, Emmental, Switzerland
- Wednesday, May 29, 7 p.m. – Evang.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde St. Markus, Ingolstadt, Germany
- Sunday, June 2, 7 p.m. – Mennonitengemeinde Bechterdissen, Leopoldshöhe, Germany
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