News

Final concert of the season

2012-05-03T00:00:00-07:00

The Tabor College Music Department will conclude its performing season with a three-part concert entitled Of Heaven and Earth. The performance will be held at the Hillsboro MB Church at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 6. The concert is free, and the public is invited to attend.

Dr. Brad Vogel, choral professor and music department chair, said that this year’s final concert will feature more variety than usual. “Traditionally Tabor has ended the performing season with a choral/instrumental work—usually a sacred oratorio,” he said. “This year, we are performing three separate works.”

The concert will begin with Mozart’s “Overture to the Magic Flute.” That will be followed with the premier of “Of Heaven and Earth,” a symphonic tone poem based on the Genesis 1 creation account. “Of Heaven and Earth” was composed by Tabor College instrumental instructor Daniel Baldwin. The concert will conclude with contemporary British composer John Rutter’s “Gloria,” which will feature the Tabor College Concert Choir with brass, percussion and organ.

“I enjoy the opportunity for the students to perform with orchestra and to perform large works that are considered choral standards,” Vogel said. Vogel invites the public, adding that the performances will offer a chance for locals to hear a quality of music not often heard in smaller communities.

“It provides a unique opportunity for our community to hear fine orchestra works and talented orchestra players,” he said.

Dr. Marlene Wall to speak at Tabor College Commencement

2012-04-26T00:00:00-07:00

Tabor alumna and President of the LCC International University in Klaipėda, Lithuania, Dr. Marlene Wall will provide the commencement address for Tabor College on Saturday, May 19, 2012. The ceremony will be held at Joel H. Wiens stadium at 10 a.m.

In case of inclement weather the event will be held at the Tabor College gymnasium.

There are 127 total candidates for degrees from the Hillsboro and Wichita campuses.

Dr. Wall, who received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education in 1981 from Tabor College, also holds an M.A. from Southern Illinois University and a PhD. from Kansas State University. She is currently a member of five associations and attends First MB Church in Wichita, Kan.

Dr. Wall is a recipient of the Tabor College Alumni Medallion Award (1996-1997), an annual regional teaching award- BEST Golden Apple Award (1994), and Tabor College Merit Scholar (1981).

In making the announcement of Dr. Wall speaking to the graduating class, President Glanzer expressed is interest in showing what the future might hold in store. “I am committed to inviting distinguished Tabor alumni to return to campus to speak at our Commencement. I want our graduates to experience Tabor alumni who have a record of significant accomplishments and are involved in a life of service.”

Trip planned for the Holy Land in 2013

2012-04-16T00:00:00-07:00

Are you interested in traveling to the land of Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and the disciples? Are you open to having your faith inspired, your view of the world broadened, and your understanding of the Bible deepened? If yes, mark January 3-23, 2013, on your calendar and make plans now to join a group of Tabor students and others on an exciting tour of the Holy Land.

The trip will be led by Tabor Bible professor Dr. Douglas Miller, and will include two dozen biblical sites, including Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, the Jordan River, Sea of Galilee (boat ride), Jericho, ancient ruins, Dead Sea and Dead Sea Scrolls, Masada, Mt. Nebo, Petra, Christian churches, a mosque, a synagogue service, encounters and conversation with local peoples, regular times of worship, instructive presentations, museums, and much more.

The trip has four primary goals that intertwine daily on the three-week trip: (1) understanding the Bible in its context, (2) learning about the three major religions of the area (Judaism, Islam, Eastern Christianity), (3) understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and (4) times for worship, reflection, and prayer.

“We will have personal contact and conversation with a variety of local people,” added Miller who particularly noted Palestinian Christians as a neglected minority.

Lodging is comfortable (private rooms) and the food is excellent. Most travel is by tour bus; there is moderate walking. Ten spots are being reserved for Tabor alumni. Beyond that number, persons will be put on a wait list. If interested, contact Dr. Douglas Miller immediately: 620 947-2439 and DougM@tabor.edu. Cost is approx. $4,500 per person. A $500 deposit (mostly refundable) will reserve your space on the trip.

Tabor College Band to tour Minnesota and South Dakota

2012-04-13T00:00:00-07:00

The symphonic band and instrumental ensembles from Tabor College will tour Minnesota and South Dakota in late April before returning to Hillsboro for the band’s home concert on April 29. The strings and small ensembles will present their home concert on May 1.

Programs will be given at the Community Bible Church in Mountain Lake, Minn., and Bethesda MB Church in Huron, S.D., on Sunday, April 22; James Valley Christian School in Huron, Freeman Academy in Freeman, S.D., and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion on Monday, April 23. On Tuesday the ensembles will also stop at the University of Nebraska for master classes with the university’s instrumental instructors.

The Tabor College Symphonic Band, Strings Ensemble, Flute Choir and Double Reed Trio will perform in the joint concerts under the direction of Mr. Daniel Baldwin, associate professor of instrumental music. This will be Baldwin’s first tour with the Tabor ensembles.

“I have wonderful ensembles and we are making great progress,” Baldwin said. “They are doing a terrific job.” Selections from the ensembles’ repertoire will include standard and classical instrumental literature, contemporary pieces and some simply entertaining music. Two of Baldwin’s own compositions are included in the selections. The symphonic band includes wind instruments and percussion, and performs annually for the college during the Christmas season, commencement and at several concerts throughout the year. The instrumentalists also serve as the members of Tabor’s pep band for home football and basketball games. The band was selected by the KCAC in March to serve as the official pep band at the conference’s basketball championship games, hosted at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan.

The strings ensemble, Baldwin added, is the newest addition to Tabor’s instrumental music program. “We are making strides to really push it and have it play a larger role in the music department,” he said. “To my knowledge, this will be the first time the string ensemble has gone on tour. I am incredibly pleased with this and look forward to starting a tradition and building a fine strings program.”

For a complete schedule of the concert series, please check blogs.tabor.edu/music/tour-schedule-symphonic-band.

Vogel to present senior voice recital

2012-04-13T00:00:00-07:00

Vocalist Hanna Vogel will perform her senior recital at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, in the Tabor College Chapel. The public is invited to attend.

Vogel, the daughter of Marcus and Janna Bishop from Hays, Kan., is a soprano and church music major studying under Dr. Holly Swartzendruber. She plans to graduate in May.

Vogel will perform a selection of works by classical composers, Mozart ang Brahms as well as contemporary and American poets and playwrights.

“Every piece has a different meaning for me,” Vogel said of her selections. “The sacred pieces are important to me because of my relationship with Christ and my desire to worship him in all that I do, including singing. The Amy Beach set talks about young love, which is appropriate for me as a newlywed. And the final set is a musical theatre set which shows my love for the stage.”

Vogel said that her time at Tabor has transformed her both spiritually and academically.“I have not only gained great musical knowledge,” she said, “I have gained great passion for the One I am singing for.”

The faculty, she added, are responsible for much of this growth. “The professors at Tabor are second to none,” Vogel said. “I consider it a huge privilege to have studied under such talent.”

Music, Vogel said, is one way that she can share her faith with others. “In everything that I do I want to honor and glorify God,” she said. “Through music, I want to lead others in worship of God and show them Christ’s love.”

After graduating, Vogel said that she hopes to find a job where she can minister to and serve others. She and her husband plan to stay in the Hillsboro area, where they are both actively involved in the worship program at their church.

Mennonite Heritage Tour Offered

2012-04-10T00:00:00-07:00

A Mennonite heritage tour will be offered at 11:45 a.m. Saturday May 5, 2012. CMBS director, Peggy Goertzen, will serve as the interpretative tour guide, offering insight and narrative to significant historical sites in the area.

The tour will be accommodated on a 48-passenger bus, following a light, ethnic lunch, Faspa, in the historic church on the Tabor College campus. At this location a brief history of the Polish Mennonites of the French Creek area, some of whom founded the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, will be given.

Other stops during the afternoon tour will include the Gnadenau KMB village, orphanage and cemetery site, Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, Walton historic marker, Goessel Mennonite Brethren church site and cemetery, Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Springfield Krimmer Mennonite Brethren church site and cemetery, and Spring Valley Mennonite Church. The tour is scheduled to conclude at the Historic Church by 5 p.m.

Tickets for this enriching tour of significant historical locations are $25 each. Seating is limited. Tabor students are eligible for scholarships.

To reserve a seat call (620) 947-3121 ext. 1211 or ext. 1212 or by email peggyg@tabor.edu.

Bergland to give senior recital

2012-04-09T00:00:00-07:00

Vocalist Clarissa Berglund will perform her senior recital at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 15, in the Tabor College Chapel. The public is invited to attend.

Berglund, the daughter of Jay and Ardelle from Gettysburg, S.D., is a soprano and music education major studying under Dr. Holly Swartzendruber. She plans to graduate in May.

She has prepared a diverse program including works by classical composers as well as contemporary and American poets and playwrights.

“These songs were chosen for a number of reasons,” Berglund said. “The different songs are from a wide range of styles, eras and composers.”

The songs are challenging both technically and in artistic expression, Berglund said, helping her grow in her musicianship. She added that the selections are each interesting to her because of the unique stories they tell.

Being strengthened in both music and life are contributions from her professors that Berglund said has greatly enhanced her time at Tabor.

“The music faculty at Tabor is outstanding,” she said. “Through classes, lessons and performances, I have been stretched and challenged as a person, as a musician and as a student. My music professors have encouraged me through my college experience, and I know they believe in me and expect great things from me.”

The importance she finds in music, Berglund said, goes deeper than the directions it has taken in her academics and future career choices.

“To me, it is very powerful and meaningful when biblical or spiritual words are put to music,” she said. “The music enhances the text. I also believe that music and the arts in general are a way to express God’s beauty and glory in a way that mere words cannot.”

After graduating, Berglund will return in the fall to complete her student teaching requirements. Afterwards, she plans to teach music and pursue a master’s degree in conducting.

CMBS Dinner to feature Dr. Terry Hunt

2012-04-09T00:00:00-07:00

Highlighting the history of the Mennonite Brethren in the eastern United States and casting a vision for the future, Dr. Terry Hunt, district minister of the North Carolina Mennonite Brethren Conference, has been invited to provide the keynote address for the CMBS annual spring dinner meeting. The dinner will be May 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center lobby. Tickets are $15 and reservations can be made by contacting CMBS director, Peggy Goertzen at (620) 947-3121 ext. 1211 or ext. 1212 or by email peggyg@tabor.edu. Reservations are due April 30.

“We are pleased that Dr. Hunt has agreed to come to Kansas and speak at our annual spring dinner,” said Goertzen. “It is an honor and we look forward to hearing of the history of the early African-Americans Mennonites that lived in the region and their dreams for ministry in the future.”

The North Carolina MB Conference has its beginnings with a local couple, Henry V. and Elizabeth Wiebe from the Springfield KMB Church, rural Lehigh, Kansas, in 1899.

Schmidt to perform a recital on flute on Tuesday, April 10

2012-04-03T00:00:00-07:00

Emily Schmidt will perform her senior recital on flute at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, in the Tabor College Chapel. The public is invited to attend.

Schmidt, the daughter of Russell Schmidt and Elizabeth Hofer of Wichita, Kan., is a music education major studying under Joyann Brake. She plans to graduate in May.

She will perform Allegretto malincolico, Canatilena and Presto giocoso from Sonate for flute and piano by Francis Poulenc; Fantasie by Gabriel Faure; Amhran from Flute Concerto by Christopher Rouse; Heiter bewegt, Sehr lansam and Sehr lebhaft / Marsch from Sonate by Paul Hindemith; and Of Winds and Wings by Tabor College instrumentals director Daniel Baldwin.

“I selected these pieces because I like them,” Schmidt said of her program. “Some of the music I liked immediately and others took hearing them a few times before I could decide, but I enjoy all of the pieces immensely. They also provide a challenge both technically and expressively,” she said.

Schmidt said that her training at Tabor has strengthened her skill and talent in playing the flute.

“Tabor has helped me advance my music education by helping me gain skills that I will need—and didn’t yet have—and improve the musical skills I had already begun to learn,” she said.

Making music is also one of Schmidt’s expressions of worship, she said. “Music provides another way of worshipping God,” she said, “both on my own and with others.”

After graduating from Tabor this spring, Schmidt will return in the fall to complete her student teaching requirements.

Prominent Mennonite historian, educator to speak on campus

2012-03-23T00:00:00-07:00

The public is invited to hear Dr. Robert Kreider, Mennonite historian, church leader, and past president of Bluffton College speak on the Tabor College campus on Wed. March 28 at 12 p.m. His remarks have been titled, “The Significant Impact of Mennonite Brethren Friends in My Journey.”

The presentation will take place in the Blue-Gold Room in the student center. Those interested in lunch may purchase a meal from the cafeteria or bring your own meal to enjoy during his remarks.

Kreider has been influential in many areas, including assisting in the formation of the Teachers Abroad Program through the Mennonite Central Committee. Now retired from full time work, but still very active, Kreider continues to travel, consulting and serving the larger Mennonite community in a variety of ways.

For additional information, contact Peggy Goertzen, director of CMBS at (620) 947-3121 ext. 1211.