The premiere performance of “Sun, Moon and Stars,” a cantata for mixed choir, baritone solo, and orchestra written especially for the 100th Anniversary of Tabor College by composer and pianist Dr. Larry Warkentin of Fresno, Calif., was the highlight the Tabor College Centennial Spring Concert, held Sunday, May 10.
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/
The Tabor College Symphonic Band, including the Jazz Band, Flute Ensemble and Bluejays’ Pep Band, will perform its Home Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 3, in the College Chapel-Auditorium. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
According to Dr. Richard Cantwell, Director of the Symphonic Band and instrumental ensembles, the Home Concert will contain a variety of music performed during concerts given in Oklahoma during the band’s annual Spring Tour, April 23 to 27.
“Providing a wide variety of music for the audience and the ability to play many different styles for the audience’s enjoyment is a goal and desire of each individual and the group,” said Cantwell, who is in his 11th year of directing music at the college and also serves as Chairman of the Music Department.
This year the band is featuring student soloists Corina Neufeld, oboist, from Denver, Colo.; marimba players Lisa Hall, McPherson, Kan., and Joel McCoy, Olathe, Kan.; and, trumpet player Eric Funk, Littleton, Colo.
The Symphonic Band members are selected by audition and come from across the United States. The Jazz Band and Flute Ensemble members are selected from members of the Symphonic Band. The Jazz Band will be performing a variety of “Big Band” and “Swing Band” selections. The Flute Ensemble literature will be selected from classical and sacred selections.
“The ensemble members are individually fine players, but combining the individual abilities into a fine performance organization is an enjoyable and rewarding challenge,” Cantwell said. “Making beautiful music, making energizing music, making music fun and enjoyable are all desires of the ensemble.”
Dr. Cantwell holds a Doctorate in Music Arts Degree in Instrumental and Choral Conducting from the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City having worked extensively with Dr. Glenn Block and Dr. Eph Ehly. He is married to Dr. Linda Cantwell, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Tabor College.
The Ta
bor College Symphonic Band, including the Jazz Band, Flute Ensemble and Bluejays’ Pep Band, will perform a series of free public concerts in Oklahoma during its annual Spring Tour, April 23 to 27, 2009.
According to Dr. Richard Cantwell, Director of the Symphonic Band and instrumental ensembles, a variety of music will be performed at different venues, beginning with the group’s first performance, at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 23, at the Mennonite Brethren Church, in Fairview, Okla.
“Providing a wide variety of music for the audience and the ability to play many different styles for the audience’s enjoyment is a goal and desire of each individual and the group,” said Cantwell, who is in his 11th year of directing music at the college and also serves as Chairman of the Music Department.
“Instrumental music has a very different effect on its audience than piano or choral music,” Cantwell added. “The variety in timbres is greater and individually unique. The contrast in musical style is broader and more diverse. The resonances are thin and thick in nature. The dynamic levels are various and can become overwhelming.”
This year the band is featuring student soloists Corina Neufeld, oboist, from Denver, Colo.; marimba players Lisa Hall, McPherson, Kan., and Joel McCoy, Olathe, Kan.; and, trumpet player Eric Funk, Littleton, Colo.
The Symphonic Band members are selected by audition and come from across the United States. The Jazz Band and Flute Ensemble members are selected from members of the Symphonic Band.
The Jazz Band will be performing a variety of “Big Band” and “Swing Band” selections. The Flute Ensemble literature will be selected from classical and sacred selections.
“The ensemble members are individually fine players, but combining the individual abilities into a fine performance organization is an enjoyable and rewarding challenge,” Cantwell said. “Making beautiful music, making energizing music, making music fun and enjoyable are all desires of the ensemble.”
Other performances include:
* Friday, April 24, Memorial Road Mennonite Brethren Church in Edmond, Okla., at 7 p.m.
* Saturday, April 25, Oklahoma National Memorial, in Oklahoma City, followed by an evening concert at the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church, in Corn, Okla.
* Sunday, April 26, the band will provide music during the morning worship service at the church in Corn. After a lunch at the church, the band will travel to Enid, Okla., for a concert at the Enid Mennonite Brethren Church, at 6:00 pm.
* Monday, April 27, the ensembles will perform at the Oklahoma Bible Academy, Enid, Okla., before returning home to Hillsboro.
Upon returning to Hillsboro, the band will perform its Home Concert at 4 p.m., Sunday, May 3, in the College Chapel-Auditorium.
Dr. Cantwell holds a Doctorate in Music Arts Degree in Instrumental and Choral Conducting from the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City having worked extensively with Dr. Glenn Block and Dr. Eph Ehly. He is married to Dr. Linda Cantwell, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Tabor College.
Celebrating its 100th year, 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.
Tabor College Concert Band
DaQuon Anderson, Ardmore, Okla., Trombone; Hanna Bishop, Hays, Kan., Bass Clarinet; Timothy Butler, Hillsboro, Kan., Percussion; Andrew Corl, Abilene, Kan., Baritone; Heather Deckert, Minot, N.D., Clarinet; Emily Dick, Kingman, Kan., Clarinet; Erin Dick, Corn, Okla., Alto Saxophone; Meghann Eblen, Leavenworth, Kan., Bassoon/Baritone; Darren Enns, Hillsboro, Kan., Trombone; Aaron Epp, Henderson, Neb., Trombone; Ben Friesen, Guthrie, Okla., Baritone Saxophone; Mitch Friesen, Newton, Kan., Percussion; Sarah Friesen, Guthrie, Okla., Flute; Eric Funk, Littleton, Colo., Trumpet; Katie Gerber, Wichita, Kan., Flute; Steven Gramza, Olathe, Kan., Double Bass; Lisa Hall, McPherson, Kan., Percussion; Jeff Harden, Ashland, Kan., Trombone; Melissa Just, DeSoto, Kan., Flute; Alyssa King, Wichita, Kan., Flute; Shawn Malone, Junction City, Kan., Percussion; Joel McCoy, Olathe, Kan., Percussion; Corina Neufeld, Denver, Colo., Oboe; Andrew Pankratz, Abilene, Kan., French Horn; Jenae Pauls, Inman, Kan., Flute; Janae Rempel, Meade, Kan., Clarinet; Elissa Richert, Hillsboro, Kan., Contrabass Clarinet; Amy Schmidt, Corn, Okla., Flute; Emily Schmidt, Bel Aire, Kan., Flute; Aaron Stepanek, Hillsboro, Kan., Trumpet; Megan Souter, Fairview, Okla., Flute; Kayla Tonne, Ashland, Kan., Flute; Allison Trollope, Kingman, Kan., Alto Saxophone; Kelsey Unruh, Hillsboro, Kan., Alto Saxophone; Travis Unruh, Shafter, Calif., Trumpet; Mattie Vance, Concordia, Kan., Clarinet; David Vogel, Hillsboro, Kan., Trombone; Brandon Voth, Lynden, Wash., Clarinet; Danae Warkentin, Corn, Okla., Clarinet; Julie Wiens, Fresno, Calif., Percussion/Piano; Stephanie Wiens, Fresno, Calif., Flute/Piccolo; Briana Willems, Sedgwick, Kan., Percussion; and, Allen Yoder, Kingman, Kan., Trumpet.
The premiere performance of “Sun, Moon and Stars,” a cantata for mixed choir, baritone solo, and orchestra written especially for the 100th Anniversary of Tabor College by composer and pianist Dr. Larry Warkentin of Fresno, Calif., was the highlight the Tabor College Centennial Spring Concert, held Sunday, May 10.
