The event is co-sponsored by Tabor College and the Hillsboro Area Ministerial Association and will feature concert performances by a variety of groups and soloists from the Tabor Music Department.  Admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item for Main Street Ministries. A freewill offering will also be taken for the work of the Ministerial Alliance.

“The goal of the ministerial association is for churches of the community to fellowship together and work together to meet the needs of people in our community,” said Rev. Gaylord Goertzen, chair of the ministerial association and pastor of the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church.  “Tabor College is an important part of our community and we are thrilled to have a joint Fall Festival and Thanksgiving service with Tabor.”

According to Dr. Richard Cantwell, Professor of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Music Department, the Community Thanksgiving Service has traditionally been an opportunity for members of the Hillsboro community to worship and count their blessings together. Musicians from Tabor College are eager to add their musical talents and songs of praise to this year’s festivities.

“In partnering with the Ministerial Association and the Tabor College Music Department, the celebration is energized by the broader participation of the city and the college,” Cantwell said. “The food items and offering raised will continue to support the compassionate ministries of the Ministerial Association.”

Under Cantwell’s direction, the Symphonic Band will play selections from the holiday favorite Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” with accompanying visuals. The Trombone Choir will be featured in a couple of selections, and the Handbell Choir will be playing the Christmas favorite, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

The Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Brad Vogel, Professor of Choral Music, will perform a number of seasonal selections with a variety of instrumentation, including student violinists Mary Goering and Julie Wiens, oboist Corina Neufeld, and vocal soloists Kayla Vix and David Vogel.

“We are looking forward to partnering with the Hillsboro Ministerial Alliance in this concert of praise and thanksgiving,” Dr. Vogel said. “The mission of Tabor College fits well with the ministry of this organization, and allows the arts at Tabor to be both featured and a source of service in the community.”

Tabor College vocalists and accompanists performed well at the highly-competitive National Association of Teacher’s of Singing (NATS) West Region Student Auditions contest, held this past Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. Shown from left to right, Darren Enns, Maria Loewen, Aaron Stepanek, Emily Olson, Kayla Vix, Hanna Bishop, Naomi Toews, and David Vogel, who placed first in the Sophomore Men Classical Performance Category. (Courtesy photo).

HILLSBORO, Kan. – Tabor College’s David Vogel sang his way to first place in the Sophomore Men Classical Performance category at the highly-competitive National Association of Teacher’s of Singing (NATS) West Region Student Auditions contest held this past Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.

Darren Enns (accompanied by Maria Loewen) was the second-highest ranking Tabor vocalist, advancing all the way to the finals and placing fifth in Junior Men Classical Performance.

Three other Tabor vocalists (and accompanists) qualified for semi-final rounds: Hanna Bishop (Sally Epp) in Sophomore Women Classical Performance and Music Theater Performance; Aaron Stepanek (Maria Loewen) in Sophomore Men Classical performance; and Kayla Vix (Emily Olson) in Senior Women Music Theater Performance.

In all, over 300 singers from 25 colleges, universities and private voice studios from Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas competed in the event, including16 singers and accompanists from Tabor.

Prior to reaching finals, singers performed three songs for a panel of three judges. The top singers advanced to a semi-final round, where they sang one song for a different panel of judges. Five singers from the semi-final round advanced to the finals, where they sang one selection for a panel of three judges.

Tabor’s winning vocalist, Vogel (accompanied by Naomi Toews) performed Verdi’s famous aria, “La donne e’ mobile,” in the final round.  David is the student and son of Dr. Brad Vogel, Professor of Choral Music, and the third Tabor College student to win his division in the past seven years. He placed second in the Freshman Classical Performance category last year.

“It is always a pleasure to see your students succeed,” Dr. Vogel said, “and as a teacher you feel very responsible for them, even though the work is theirs.  It does add a little more pressure, if not joy, when the student belongs to you!”

The female semi-finalists, Bishop and Vix, are students of Dr. Holly Swartzendruber, Adjunct Professor of Voice; the male semi-finalist performers are students of Dr. Vogel.

Additional Tabor singers and (accompanists) competing at the event were, Freshmen Women: Lauren Just (Benjamin Heyen); Kady Albrecht (Sally Epp); and Mary Bishop (Epp). Sophomore Women: Clarissa Berglund (Heyen); and Senior Women: Emily Olson (Janae Rempel).

“By and large, the students who compete at NATS are vocal performance majors, and focus primarily and nearly solely on this aspect of their lives,” Dr. Vogel said. “In contrast, all of our singers just completed Children of Eden three weeks ago, and only two of our semifinalists are music majors (Enns and Stepanek).  David and Kayla are English majors, and Hanna is undecided.

“Needless to say, we are extremely pleased and proud of all of these students!” Vogel added.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the Tabor College Music Program offers students several areas of concentration, combining a quality education in the liberal arts with an emphasis on service to others. To learn more, visit www.tabor.edu/undergraduate/academic-programs/music

The “Three Fold” performance series begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, with the one-man comedy “Fully Committed,” performed by Woods, a 2005 Tabor graduate, who has been acting and doing comedy in Chicago, Ill. A musical concert will follow at 9 p.m., performed by Tucker and Regier, both 2006 Tabor graduates, who have been playing together and separately in Virginia Beach, Va.

Woods will perform “Fully Committed” again at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7. At 9 p.m. the three actors will perform improvisational comedy together in a revival of the ever-popular Tabor touring troupe, “Mind Your Head.”

The improv comedy of “Mind Your Head” will be repeated in a performance at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8.

Tickets are $5 for general public ($3 for current Tabor students) and may be purchased in advance at the Student Life Office or at the door on the night of the performance. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Tabor Theatre program which helped launch the entertainers’ careers.

“It has been rewarding and meaningful to stay in touch with these three and other friends of theirs from Tabor days,” said Judy Harder, Associate Professor of Communications and Drama. “In the course of visiting back and forth these last few years, it seemed the right time for them to come back and perform together on our campus again. All three enjoy performing together and they love to interact with their audiences. I am confident that all who attend will experience fine quality entertainment.

“They are donating their time and talent in appreciation for their experiences in the arts at Tabor,” Harder added. “They often express their desire to support the arts at Tabor. After expenses are covered, proceeds from the weekend will be used to support needs of Tabor theatre productions.”

Michael Woods

Woods has received much attention from prominent theaters in the Chicagoland area and has been acting consistently since he arrived in town. Act One Studios reviewed Woods as ”…fantastically funny… His physical humor, high stakes commitment, and great sense of humor is a joy to behold.” The Chicago Tribune hailed Woods as, “a standout character actor” and “masterful in his (comedic) timing.”

According to Harder, “Woods performed ‘Fully Committed’ as his Senior Project while at Tabor and we are in for an amazing repeat performance of a flustered phone clerk taking on more than 35 characters calling for reservations at a trendy New York Restaurant.

“I am eager to see Michael’s tour de force comedy,” she added. “Michael’s performance of Fully Committed was phenomenal while he was here at Tabor, and I have no doubt that his reworking and repeating the one-man comedy will result in another amazing performance.”

Following graduation from Tabor, Woods earned an MFA in Acting from Regent (Va.) University, and roomed for awhile with Tucker and Regier who took advantage of various music and acting performance opportunities in the Hampton Roads area.

Woods said he is eager to return to the Tabor College stage.

“Tabor College is where I crafted the dream that I am now living out,” Woods said. “Coming back to perform at Tabor is a great way at looking back at how far the three of us have gone, where we will go in the future, and looking to where others might dream to go as well.”

Rachel Pederson, also a 2006 Tabor graduate, from Wichita, will be assisting Woods with sound effects during Fully Committed.

“She is giving up a week of workdays to rehearse with Michael in Wichita before they perform here on campus,” Harder said. “She was involved with theater in a major way while at Tabor, along with the guys.”
Regier and Tucker have embarked their own solo careers as singer-songwriters (both have solo CDs available) and they frequently perform together. Throughout the summers of ‘08 & ‘09, they played at Beach Street USA on the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, and, recently appeared as “Jonathan and Landon” on the “Live Music Friday” segment of the FOX 43 TV news program in Virginia Beach.

Introducing them to the television audience, the announcer said, “We’re celebrating with the acoustic rock duo Jonathan and Landon… These guys are college buddies that turned music into a career, and that’s very cool!”
According to the “About” section on his website, Regier is a “surveyor of moments.”

“He puts into melodies that unusually perceptive glimpse between you and the stranger you walked by today. His words describe that very glance that will tap on your reflective shoulder the moment you sit down to unwind. Jonathan is a musician of perception. “I take a moment and live there in my songs. I’m committed to finding out whether it resonates with other people.”

Jonathan Regier

Jonathan’s debut EP, The Smithson Sessions, is a snapshot of these moments, colored by the sun and stars of Virginia Beach.”

Regier just finished a number of short film projects as well as playing piano for the Patsy Cline show on the oceanfront. His first feature film, “The Box” comes out at the end of October, in which he plays one of the black ops officers.

As for Tucker, according to the “About” section on his website, his desire is “to stir up people to look at life from a different perspective and challenge them to a life well lived. I want to live hard, laugh loud, and love deep…and I wouldn’t mind some company along the way.”

In addition to performing, Tucker has been a worship leader for various ministries and is currently serving at Freedom Fellowship in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg Collegiate in Williamsburg, Va. He recorded an EP during his last year at Tabor with the help of 2007 Tabor graduate, Keith Warkentin. It is available for sale at cdbaby.com.

While at Tabor, Woods, Regier and Tucker shared the spotlight in several shows, such as “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Twelve Angry Men,” and “The Drawer Boy.”

“Anyone who attended the Tabor College production of “The Foreigner” in 2002 will not soon forget the hilarious comedy featuring Woods as Charlie, Regier as Ellard and Tucker as Froggy,” Harder said.

“Jonathan and Landon also sang in the Concert Choir and performed musical worship with Crosswise and Share, Prayer & Dare,” she added. “They toured with comedy improv calling themselves “Mind Your Head,” and Landon’s work in graphic design further established their reputation as a multi-talented threesome.”

Landon Tucker

According to Regier, the coaching and experience he received from Tabor both in music and acting provided the solid foundation that he needed to pursue his passion as a professional entertainer. He looks forward to sharing the Tabor spotlight again with his former college chums, who have become great professional colleagues.

“I love performing with Mike and Landon,” Regier said. “They are so good at what they do that I have full confidence when I’m on stage with them. I know they’ve got my back.”

For Tucker, returning to Tabor is an opportunity to give back to a college that gave so much to him.
“I always enjoy coming back and performing at Tabor,” Tucker said. “It’s a lot like coming home again. My experiences there helped shape who I am today; the people, the education, the community life. Tabor gave me opportunities to grow as a musician and artist and helped give me a solid foundation from which to move forward. I’m happy to give back what I can.”

Watch Video of Jonathan and Landon on Fox 43 TV

“I have always enjoyed working with the chamber repertoire,” said Litke, who is the Associate Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Tabor College. “It’s very exciting and challenging to play. And to have the opportunity to perform with such fine players is a special treat as well.”

The chamber trio, which has performed beautifully together on several past occasions, is scheduled to perform three works on Sunday: “Trio in E Major,” by Franz Joseph Haydn; “Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14,” by Sergei Rachmaninoff; and “Café Music for Trio,” by Paul Schoenfield.

“There will be a mix of styles with this program,” Litke said. “The Haydn is very light and dance-like. The Rachmaninoff is very expressive, as much of his music is. And the Cafe Music is just exciting to listen to. It brings together many styles such as blues, ragtime, spirituals and Broadway musicals.”

Dougherty is a retired instrumental music teacher in the Wichita Public Schools where she taught for 32 years. She has been a member of the Wichita Symphony for 38 years, and served as concertmaster for Music Theatre of Wichita for 38 years. In addition, she has served 13 years as concertmaster of the Newton Mid-Kansas Orchestra. She completed her Masters Degree in School Counseling at Wichita State University in the spring of 2006.

Mayo teaches at Friends University and Bethel College and plays with the Wichita Symphony. She also has a large private studio and was awarded the 2007 Lois Gordon Cello Teacher of the Year Award. She has participated in a variety of summer festivals including Spoleto, Coos Bay, Ameropa, and Flagstaff Summer Festival. She also has been a member of the KAC Touring Roster and the Artist in Residence program. She attended the University of the Pacific, the Peabody Conservatory, and Wichita State University.

Dr. Litke was the recipient of the Tabor College Distinguished Faculty Award in 2007-08, which granted her more time for practice and performances in Hillsboro and throughout the Midwest. She holds degrees from University of Kansas, University of Colorado and Houghton College. She has also studied in Germany and at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, England.

Begun in the year 2000, the award is given annually to the faculty member who best exemplifies the qualities of excellent teaching at Tabor College.

These qualities include:

• A strong Christian commitment
• Record of excellence in teaching, as shown by peer and student reviews.
• Evidence of integrating faith and learning.
• Commitment to Tabor College as an institution, as shown in support of departments outside one’s own area.

Swartzendruber received the award from Provost Lawrence Ressler during the annual Honors and Awards Convocation, held May 13 at the college. In addition to a plaque and recognition at the annual spring appreciation dinner, the recipient of the Clarence R. Hiebert Award also receives a personal honorarium of $2,500.

“Dr. Swartzendruber is a special faculty member,” Ressler said. “It is clear from the comments of students that Dr. Swartzendruber is equally respected for her skills in teaching, her Christ-like character, and her relationship with students. She is well-deserving of the honor.”

A member of the Tabor faculty since 2003, among the courses taught by Swartzendruber are Vocal Pedagogy and Diction, Music Theory I and II, Ear Training/Sight Singing I and II, Introduction to Fine Arts, as well as private voice lessons.

A gifted concert soprano, Swartzendruber continues to develop her singing career through performances in faculty recitals, such as “Liederabend” and “Dueling Divas,” and as the soprano soloist in Fauré’s Requiem, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah.

Last fall she starred as Golde in Tabor’s centennial production of Fiddler on the Roof, and the previous year served as Music Director for the Tabor musical drama Honk!

“Dr. Swartzendruber is a fine classroom and studio teacher,” said Dr. Richard Cantwell, Professor of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Music Department, “She has the ability to balance compassion and empathy against valuable learning experiences and realistic demands for her students. She communicates equally well on the concert stage, in a tradition classroom or one-on-one relationships.”

The nominating process for the Clarence R. Hiebert Award began during the spring term, when Ressler convened an ad hoc committee consisting of the two past student Hiebert Merit Award recipients, the two immediate past Clarence R. Hiebert award recipients, and the Vice President of Student Development.

The committee received more than a dozen glowing nominations for Swartzendruber, written by faculty peers as well as current and former students. The following are excerpts:

I would like to nominate Holly Swartzendruber for the Clarence R. Hiebert Excellence in Teaching Award because I believe she exemplifies the mission of Tabor in her teaching and relations with students and other faculty. She teaches with humility despite the fact that her gifts would definitely give her reason to boast. She is a loving, caring individual who lives out her faith in an admirable way. Not to mention that her teaching ability is one of the best at Tabor.

I would like to nominate Holly Swartzendruber for the Clarence Hiebert Teaching Award. Her impact on the students she teaches in private voice is immeasurable; both on the direct impact on her students and also the impact that those matured voices have on the rest of the choir members. Her teaching style, personality, and care for her students exemplify the mission of Tabor College: to prepare students for a life of learning, work and service for Christ and his Kingdom.

Holly has touched not only my life, but so many lives that have taken voice lessons from her during their years at Tabor College. Holly is an amazing teacher that goes out of her way to make sure all of her students are learning and becoming the best adults they can so that they can make this world a better place. I see no one better for this award than Holly.

Dr. Swartzendruber has been an extreme influence in my view of Tabor, my life goals, and is an excellent role model of how a Christian woman should live out her life for Christ. As seen by her incredible growing resume and experience, she is never satisfied by complacency, but strives to make Tabor a thriving source of the highest education.

Her commitment to Christ is evident in how she treats her students and colleagues, and her tireless devotion to be the best at what gifts God has given her to bless others. She deserves to be honored for her hard work.

Swartzendruber holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music in vocal performance from Ohio University, and a Bachelor of Arts in music, from Goshen College. She is married to Dr. Douglas B. Miller, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies and Chair of the Bible, Religion, and Philosophy Department.

“I am honored to have served in such a strong music department with wonderful colleagues,” said Swartzendruber. “It has been a privilege to work with Tabor students, both in the classroom and in my voice studio.”

Warkentin, Professor Emeritus at Fresno Pacific University, is a distinguished alumnus of Tabor College, who has composed numerous works which have been performed by the Fresno Philharmonic, The Tulare (Calif.) Symphony, the Festival Quartet of Canada, and many choirs in North America and Europe.

The premiere of “Sun, Moon and Stars” encompassed seven sections and was performed by the Tabor College Oratorio Chorus and the Tabor College Community Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Bradley Vogel, Professor of Choral Music. The piece included a baritone solo sung by Justin Moore, a junior from Hillsboro, Kan., and concluded with the combined choir, orchestra, and audience singing Great is Thy Faithfulness.

Warkentin, who was born in 1940 in Reedley, Calif., arrived at Tabor in 1958, where the young pianist was chosen to accompany the Tabor Choir under the direction of musical giants Herbert Richert and Paul Wohlgemuth.

“The musical idea for the composition comes from my experience as accompanist for the Tabor Male Octet during the years that Richert was music director,” Warkentin said.

In addition to the new cantata, the Centennial Concert included a performance by the Tabor College Symphonic Band, conducted by Dr. Richard Cantwell, Professor of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Music Department. The Tabor College Concert Choir, conducted by Dr.Vogel, also performed.

Dr. Shiela Litke, Associate Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy, performed Piano Concerto in E Major, Op. 59 by Moritz Moszkowski, accompanied by the Community Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Cantwell.

For more photos of the Centennial Spring Concert, Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/taborcollege/sets/72157617910586617/

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

The new cantata was written especially for the 100th Anniversary of the college by distinguished Tabor alum, composer and pianist Dr. Larry Warkentin of Fresno, Calif.

Warkentin, Professor Emeritus at Fresno Pacific University, was asked by the late Dr. Jonah Kliewer, Professor Emeritus of Music, to write a piece for choir and orchestra for the historic concert. Kliewer’s request was made on behalf of the Tabor Centennial Committee, which commissioned the work.

In addition to the cantata, the Centennial Concert includes a performance by the Tabor College Symphonic Band, conducted by Dr. Richard Cantwell, Professor of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Music Department. The band will play Declaration Overture, by Claude T. Smith; Holy, Holy, Holy, arranged by Lari Goss; and, Fanfare Prelude: “And Can It Be?” by Charles Wesley, arranged by Timothy Johnson.

The Tabor College Concert Choir, conducted by Dr. Bradley Vogel, Professor of Choral Music, will perform A Song of Praise by Gwyneth Walker; My Jesus, I Love Thee, arranged by Jay Rouse; and, John the Revelator, arranged by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory.

Dr. Shiela Litke, Associate Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy, will perform Piano Concerto in E Major, Op. 59 by Moritz Moszkowski, accompanied by the Community Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Richard Cantwell.

Warkentin has composed numerous works for vocal solo, piano solo, chamber ensembles, choir, and orchestra, which have been performed by the Fresno Philharmonic, The Tulare (Calif.) Symphony, the Festival Quartet of Canada, and by many choirs in North America and Europe. His piano piece Academic Variations won first prize in the California Music Teachers Association competition.

The work encompasses seven sections, is 30 minutes long, and includes a baritone solo, to be sung by Justin Moore, a junior from Hillsboro, Kan. The piece concludes with the combined choir, orchestra, and audience singing Great is Thy Faithfulness.

Warkentin, who was born in 1940 in Reedley, Calif., arrived at Tabor in 1958, where the young pianist was chosen to accompany the Tabor Choir under the direction of musical giants Herbert Richert and Paul Wohlgemuth.

“The musical idea for the composition comes from my experience as accompanist for the Tabor Male Octet during the years that Richert was music director,” Warkentin said.

In 1962, Warkentin earned his degree, married his Tabor College sweetheart, Paula (Berg) Warkentin of Wichita, Kan., and moved back to California to begin teaching at Fresno Pacific College. He went on to earn his master’s degree at California State University, Fresno, and his doctorate at the University of Southern California. He taught piano performance and music composition at Fresno Pacific for 40 years before his retirement in 2002.

In retirement, Warkentin has performed in recitals at FPU, including an appearance with renowned flutist, Paul Fried, and bass soloist, Andrew Funk. In 2004 he presented an all-Chopin recital in Gdansk, Poland. In 2007, with baritone soloist Milton Friesen, he performed his own compositions entitled Eleven Little Love Songs, which is now available on CD.

The Warkentins, who have two adult children and two grandchildren, enjoy traveling and attend North Fresno Mennonite Brethren church, where he still serves on the Music Committee and accompanies the choir.

When the time comes, the composer says he will be more than happy to let Dr. Vogel conduct his new piece.

“I want to relax and enjoy it,” Warkentin said.

Sonya, Jamie, and Marie

Rich explained the different types of music that would be played.

Jack Tar March

Lisa Hall

Mid performance Rich Cantwell wanted to showcase Lisa Hall during the song Dizzy Fingers.  He moved her stand so the crowd could see her play, she competed the remander of the song without her music by memory!