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The Path to Your Purpose
Hentus van Rooyen in Recital at Bethany College
Aug 09, 2021
LINDSBORG, KS., On August 26 at 7:30pm, Hentus van Rooyen will present an organ recital on the Thomson-Mingenback Concert Organ in Presser Hall Auditorium on the campus of Bethany College, Lindsborg KS.
Van Rooyen was selected as semi-finalist in the 12th Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition in April. The program will be comprised of repertoire prepared for the following rounds of the competition to be held in Kaliningrad, Russia in September. Composers represented include: Bach, Muffat, Duruflé, Vierne, Merkel, and Mikael Tariverdiev.
The Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition is the first and only international organ competition held in Russia. Beginning in 1999, the competition takes place in Kaliningrad every two years. In order to be selected as semi-finalist, competitors participate in a live first round held in three locations around the world: Lawrence, Kanas; Hamburg, Germany; and Moscow, Russia. At each location the jury selects no more than 50% of the participants as semi-finalists. The second round will take place in the Kaliningrad Philharmonic Society Concert Hall on September 4 and 5, and the final round on the A. Schuke organ in the Kaliningrad Cathedral on September 7. Van Rooyen will depart for Kaliningrad on August 30, 2021.
Hentus van Rooyen is Assistant Professor of Music, College Organist and Sacred Music Coordinator at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS. He also serves as Music Director and Organist at Christ Cathedral Episcopal, Salina KS. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music from the University of North Texas, and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College conferred degrees upon 99 students in Presser Hall Auditorium on April 27, 2024. The ceremony honored students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education from the college during the 2023-2024 academic year. Summer, fall, and spring graduates were honored during a Baccalaureate worship service at 10:30 a.m. in Presser Hall, followed by Commencement at 2 p.m. Campus Pastor Melissa Woeppel led the Baccalaureate Service, and Rev. Lamont Wells, Executive Director of the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Co llege and Universities (NECU). Gracelyn Gaskill '24, a chemistry and music major from Lindsborg, Kansas, provided special music for Commencement. Senior class speakers Inioluwa "Enoch" Ojo '24, a biology major from Katy, Texas, and Benjamin "Ben" Turner '24, a History and Political Science Major from Peyton, Colorado, gave thoughtful remarks on their time at Bethany College, taking time to thank their friends, faculty, and coaches. Dr. Brent Mai '85, Dean of University Libraries at Wichita State University, gave the commencement address, encouraging this year's graduates to go out into the world and exercise the four tenets of stoicism: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
Interim President Steve Eckman commended the efforts of the faculty and staff in securing the grant, stating, "We are immensely grateful to the McPherson County Community Foundation for their incredible generosity. This grant will benefit our students and enrich the educational experiences available in the Smoky Valley community."
The newly appointed Presidential Search Committee will commence their work immediately, aiming to recommend a candidate for Bethany College's 16th president to the board by the April 2025 board meeting.