HILLSBORO, Kan. – The annual Concerto Bella Voce home concert has been set for 4:00 p.m. on April 10 at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church located at 300 Prairie Pointe.
The concert is titled “The Tale of the Three Trees,” and includes the reading of a fable about three trees, each of whom has plans for the future. “Through the story and music the group will share the message of Proverbs 16:9; ‘the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps,’” said Dr. Jen Stephenson, director of the women’s choir. “In each case the plan of the tree is changed and made better by God.”
The event will be dedicated to former Concerto Bella Voce member Jenessa Hlad who died suddenly last July. Many of the returning students in the vocal group were friends with Hlad and wanted to honor her memory with their spring concert. “The theme verse from Proverbs is especially poignant when considering Jenessa’s unexpected passing,” said Stephenson. “We are comforted by knowing that God’s plans for our lives are for more important and beautiful than those we can imagine for ourselves.”
Concerto Bella Voce is made up of 15 women representing five states and Canada: Lindsay Burt of Wichita, Tessa Downs of Arkansas City, Callie Gerbrandt of Lenexa, Ashlynn Hamm of Newton, Tiffany Huxman of Moundridge, Kristen Martens of Fresno, Calif., Shannon Martens of Fresno, Calif., Mia McDaniel of Salina, Alison Nikkel of Centennial, Colo., Kelsey Nitzsche of Lincoln, Neb., Holly Reimer of Fresno, Calif., Barbara Schellert of British Columbia, Can., Kari Schmidt of Wichita, Brooke Vandever of Choctaw, Okla., and Claire Wilson of Giltner, Neb. Stephenson recently received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Alabama.