CMBS spring meeting, dinner to be held on campus
The Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies spring dinner and meeting will be held on Saturday, May 10, in the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center at Tabor College.
This year, the annual event will celebrate Tabor's rich music history. The event will feature speakers, concerts and a dinner for all attendees.
Major highlights include the following:
— 3 p.m., "Katherine Friesen: Tabor's First Instructor in Music," Dr. Clarence Hiebert, presenter. This first presentation in the series of three focuses on the very beginning of Tabor's music history. Hiebert, former professor of biblical and religious studies, will address the development of Tabor's music program from the college's founding through 1934.
— 4:15 p.m., Alumni Choir Concert Dr. Jonah Kliewer, director. The Alumni Choir will present a number of musical icons of Tabor College, performing the songs that have created a choral tradition.
— 4:45 p.m., "Influences Upon and Through the Tabor College Choir, 1935-98" Dr. Jonah Kliewer, presenter. This second presentation, by Kliewer, professor of vocal music until 1998, provides the history of the next era of Tabor College music history. According to Kliewer, the presentation discusses the music performed by the Tabor College Concert Choir, examining what differs and what remains the same. The act of establishing a musical tradition at Tabor is presented, as well as several conclusions regarding the relationship of Tabor and constituent Mennonite Brethren churches.
— 6:30 p.m., Catered Dinner
— 7:30 p.m., "Music Styles of Tabor College and MB Southern District Churches, 1961 2002" Dr. Bradley Vogel, presenter. Presented by Vogel, associate professor of vocal music, this final presentation compares the "musical literature performed by the Tabor College Choir from 1960 to the present, and the worship music practices of MB Southern District Churches during the same time frame," said Vogel.
"While the choir's literature has remained quite consistent, there is a clear and dramatic change of direction in the type of worship and worship music by the churches; the rationale for the differences of consistency and change is explored, and challenges are offered to both institutions regarding the role of music in Christian education and Christian worship."
— 8:30 p.m., Tabor College Concert Choir Dr. Bradley Vogel, director.
Contact Peggy Goertzen, CMBS director, to join the alumni choir and/or make reservations for the dinner program by Monday, May 5, at 947-3121, ext. 1211 or 1212.
