HILLSBORO, Kan. – Tabor College’s annual Spring Oratorio— featuring students, local professionals and other musicians—is set for 7 p.m., Sunday, May 17 at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
Conductor Brad Vogel says this concert is for music enthusiasts of all ages.
“I am extremely excited for this concert because of the level of repertoire we are performing,” Vogel said, “and because of the high level of musicianship that will be on display. It is not often that we have the size of orchestra and breadth of repertoire performed in the Hillsboro community. It will be a delight to perform and I’m confident it will be a delight to hear.”
Student soloists were selected by audition from our triennial student concerto competition. After seven auditions, the student winners were: Zach Neumann, junior pianist; Natalie Wiens, senior cellist; and Maryn Robson, freshman pianist.
Neumann will perform the first movement of the Grieg piano concerto, Wiens the first movement of the Dvorak cello concerto and Robson the first movement of Rubinstein’s fourth piano concerto.
“The music the concerto winners will be playing are very challenging pieces,” Sheila Litke, professor of music, said. “All of them are listed in standard concert repertoire of professional musicians. For our students to have worked so hard and mastered both the technical and musical elements of the music, speak volumes to their love and commitment to great music.”
The 38-piece orchestra is comprised of players from the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra and the Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra.
“Many of the players have committed to playing for Tabor College for many years,” Vogel said, “and provide a solid backbone and resource for our twice-a-year choral/orchestral performances.”
Additionally, the orchestra will perform the overture to Mozart’s comic opera, “The Impressario,” and will accompany the Oratorio Chorus in three large choruses from major works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The final chorus, “Sing to God,” from Haydn’s “The Creation,” will open the choral portion of the program, followed by the “Credo” from Mozart’s “Coronation Mass in C.” The “Hallelujah,” from Beethoven’s oratorio, “Christ on the Mount of Olives” will conclude the evening.
“The student soloists are performing professional-level works with professional-level artistry,” Vogel added. “The chorus works are favorites of singers and audiences alike, and are simply filled with joy. The evening will certainly be a treat for our community.”