The Bel Canto Singers of Hesston College will present a diverse repertoire of choral music May 15, 7:30pm at Old Stone Church in Bend. Hosted by Bend Mennonite Church, the program entitled Asylum: Worth, Beauty and Refuge features music ranging from renaissance motet to South African and African American freedom songs as well as recent works.
The concert draws inspiration from Hesston College’s 2014 common read: Blaine Harden’s New York Times bestseller Escape from Camp 14. The program champions the cause of human rights and celebrates refuge in its many forms. The 24-member, mixed chamber choir is conducted by Bradley Kauffman.
This fall marks the 31st season for Bel Canto Singers, the premier choral ensemble of Hesston College. The ensemble carries out ambitious concert and touring schedules annually. Combining high artistic standards with unique performance opportunities, Bel Canto Singers offers first-and second-year college musicians experiences typically reserved for third-and fourth-year students.
Bel Canto Singers represent a broad sampling of academic pursuits, from aviation to nursing to music majors. The choir has two recent CDs for sale: Songs of Wayfarer (2012-2013) and the forthcoming Asylum (2015).
Sopranos are Rachelle Adrian (Mountain Lake, Minnesota); Mary Bender (Harrisburg, Virginia); Havela Lehman (Canby Oregon); Karli Mast, (Hubbard, Oregon); EleyaRaim(Oxford, Iowa); Emma Roth(Goshen, Indiana); Rachel Shenk(Harrisonburg, Virginia) and Taylor Zehr(Archbold, Ohio).
Altos are Alaina Beatty (Washington, Iowa); Kiara Boettger(Harrisonburg, Virginia); Erika Byler (LaGrande, Indiana); Anna Martin (Harleysville, Pennsylvania); LorrenOesch(Caldwell, Idaho) and Casey Perez (Kaloha, Iowa).
Tenors are Zac Headings (Haven, Kansas); GaledKrisjayanta(Surakarta, Indonesia); Jay Marston (Murpheysboro, Illinois); John Miller (Partridge, Kansas) and AndryStutzman(Harrisonburg, Virginia).
Basses are Brady Bilderback(Caldwell, Idaho); Ben Helmuth(Goshen, Indiana); Elliott Leichty(Harrisonburg, Virginia); Matt Lind (Harrisonburg, Virginia) and Caleb Schrock-Hurst (Harrisonburg, Virginia).
Hesston College is the two-year liberal arts college owned by Mennonite Church USA. Info: Darrel Wisseman 541-447-7013