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Tabor Concert Choir to Perform at Conception Seminary College March 25

HILLSBORO, Kan. -- The Tabor College Concert Choir will perform a free public concert beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 25, in the Basilica at Conception Seminary College, 37174 State Hwy VV, in Conception, Mo.

The performance is part of the choir’s annual Spring Tour, presented from March 19-29 at number of locations in South Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.

Under the direction of Dr. Brad Vogel, Professor of Choral Music, the theme for this year’s concerts is "The Light of His Grace." 

“The music focuses upon texts that reflect upon God as Light, including Christ as the Light of the World and His light shining in our lives,” Vogel said. “We sing of God's grace shown in our lives as both Savior and guide. My hope is that people will be enriched by the beauty of choral music expressing texts that glorify God for His work in our lives, and express our future hope.”

According to Dr. Vogel, the concert repertoire for the tour performances is varied, with music ranging from Gregorian chant to standard works by Schutz and Telemann, and a range of contemporary sacred works by Egil Hovland, John Rutter, Jackson Berkey and Morten Lauridsen.  Compositions within the vein of the spiritual and popular style include those by Moses Hogan, Ken Berg, and the director himself, Dr. Vogel.

A number of instrumentalists will be featured, including organist Will Friesen, violinists Mary Goering and Julie Wiens, and wind players Eric Funk (trumpet), Corina Neufeld (oboe), and Stephanie Wiens (flute).

“Two concerts I'm particularly looking forward to are the Mennonite Central Committee benefit concert in the Twin Cities, and then the next night we sing in the Basilica at the Conception Seminary in Missouri,” Vogel said. “Much of our repertoire is designed for spaces such as the Basilica, and we look forward to hearing the works in that setting.”

The Tabor College Concert Choir was founded in 1925 by Professor Henry Berg, whose founding ideal was the a cappella style of the then-and-now famous St. Olaf Choir. Herbert C. Richert began a 25-year tenure as director of the choir in 1935 and developed a choral sound that became the model for church music in the Mennonite Brethren denomination. Two of Richert’s students served as succeeding directors: Dr. Paul Wohlgemuth (1960-1974) and Dr. Jonah C. Kliewer (1975-1998).

After the Concert Choir performed at New York’s International Choral Symposium in 1998, Dr. Kliewer passed the baton to his former student, current director Dr. Bradley Vogel.  Under Dr. Vogel’s direction, the choir has been selected to perform at the annual Kansas Music Educator’s Association Convention in 2000, 2003 and 2007.  The choir continues its annual Messiah performance each December, and in addition to the annual tour performs for numerous area churches, as well as performing a choral/orchestra work each spring.

Dr. Vogel is in his 13^th year as Professor of Choral Music at Tabor College, where he directs the Concert Choir and the men’s ensemble Cantate.  In addition to his conducting activities, Vogel also teaches voice and courses in choral conducting, music history, church music, and music education methods. 

An active adjudicator and clinician, Dr. Vogel has recently conducted the Wichita All-City High School Honor Chorus, the North Central, North West, South East and South West Kansas KMEA District Honor Choirs, as well as numerous area honor choirs. Additionally, he presents teaching sessions on church music and worship, and choral tone building and rehearsal preparation.  Dr. Vogel is chair of the faculty at Tabor College and also serves as past-president and newsletter editor of the Kansas Choral Directors Association.

Outside of his teaching activities, Dr. Vogel has been married to Beverly (Just) for 24 years, with whom he parents sons David (20) and Nathan (17).

Tabor College Concert Choir Spring Performance Dates

• Sunday, March 7, Parkview MB Church, 610 S. Main, Hillsboro, Kan., 8:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.
• Sunday, March 14, Buhler MB Church, 415 N. West Street, Buhler, Kan., 9 a.m.
• Sunday, March 14, Koerner Heights Church, 320 N. Meridian, Newton, Kan., 7 p.m.
• Friday, March 19, Henderson MB Church, 1201 11^th Street, Henderson, Neb., 7 p.m.
• Sunday, March 21, Grace Bible Church, 310 S. Broadway, Gettysburg, S.D., 10:45 a.m.
• Sunday, March 21, Bethesda MB Church, 1530 Frank SE, Huron, S.D., 6:30 p.m.
• Monday, March 22, James Valley Christian, 1550 Dakota Ave. N, Huron, S.D., 10:25 a.m.
• Monday, March 22, Salem MB Church, 43173 272^nd Street, Bridgewater, S.D., 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 23, Freeman Academy, 748 South Main, Freeman, S.D., 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, March 23, Community Bible Church, 500 Klein St., Mt. Lake, Minn., 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 24, Emmanuel Mennonite Church, 725 E. 25^th St., Minneapolis, Minn., Benefit Concert for Twin Cities MCC Sale, 7 p.m.
• Thursday, March 25, Conception Seminary College, 37174 State Hwy VV, Conception, Mo., 8 p.m.
• Friday, March 26, Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave., Omaha, Neb., 7 p.m.
• Sunday, April 11, First MB Church, 8000 W. 21^st Street N, Wichita, Kan., 6 p.m.
• Sunday, April 18, Spring Concert, Hillsboro MB Church, 300 Prairie Point, Hillsboro, Kan., 4 p.m.     

Tabor College Concert Choir

Rachel Alberti, Henrico, Va.; Kady Albrecht, Herington, Kan.; Clarissa Berglund, Gettysburg, S.D.; Hanna Bishop, Hays, Kan.; Mary Bishop, Hays, Kan.; Sam Brucks, Wichita, KS; Katie Chlumsky, Wichita, Kan.; Nolan Dirks, Hillsboro, Kan.; Darren Enns, Hillsboro, Kan.; Aaron Epp, Henderson, Neb.; Sarah Friesen, Guthrie, Okla.; Will Friesen, Meade, Kan. ; Abby Funk, Siloam Springs, Ark.; Eric Funk, Littleton, Colo.; Mary Goering, Newton, Kan.; Lisa Hall, McPherson, Kan.; Benjamin Heyen, Hillsboro, Kan.; Lauren Just, Hillsboro, Kan.; Sam Klein,Wichita, Kan.;  Shelby Koons, Hillsboro, Kan.; Allison Krehbiel, Hutchinson, Kan.; Cassie Kroeker, Hillsboro, Kan.; Maria Loewen, Hillsboro, Kan.; Emily Miller, Kingman, Kan.; Justin Moore, Hillsboro, Kan.;  Scott Morrow, Inman, Kan.; Corina Neufeld,  Denver, Colo.; Emily Olson, Newton, Kan.; Jenae Pauls, Inman, Kan.; Juli Richardson, Grant, Neb.; Elissa Richert, Hillsboro, Kan.; Tim Roesch, Quinter, Kan.; Emily Schmidt, Wichita, Kan.; Megan Souter, Fairview, Okla.; Jordan Stahl, Yale, S.D.; Aaron Stepanek, Hillsboro, Kan.; Logan Stranghoner, Wichita, Kan.; Carson Stutzman, Beaver Crossing, Neb.; Naomi Toews, Hesston, Kan.; Kelsey Unruh, Hillsboro, Kan.;  Mattie Vance, Concordia, Kan.; Kayla Vix, Wichita, Kan.; David Vogel, Hillsboro, Kan.; Julie Wiens, Fresno, Calif.; Stephanie Wiens, Fresno, Calif.; Ian Wohlgemuth, Wichita, Kan.; Allen Yoder, Kingman, Kan.; and Logan Zielke, Wichita, Kan.

Tabor College is a four-year Christian liberal arts institution located in Hillsboro, Kan., with a second campus, the School for Adult and Graduate Studies, in Wichita, Kan. Visit us at www.tabor.edu. To learn more about the Tabor College Music Programs, visit http://www.tabor.edu/undergraduate/academic-programs/music, or subscribe to the Tabor College Music Department Journal at http://blogs.tabor.edu/music/.