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Kansas Wesleyan University

The Kansas Wesleyan University String Orchestra will embark on a central Kansas tour on Friday, Oct. 13.

Over the course of a whirlwind day, the ensemble will perform at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson in collaboration with the Hutchinson High School Orchestra. Next, they will travel to McPherson to perform at 1 p.m. at McPherson High School. Finally, they will play at 3 p.m. during Svensk Hyllningsfest, a Swedish festival, in Lindsborg. The orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Jesse Henkensiefken, will perform works by Bernstein, Newbold, Bolmages, the Beatles and others.

The KWU String Orchestra performs the highest quality of literature written for orchestra. The ensemble rehearses weekly and performs both on- and off-campus concerts. Students have a variety of opportunities to perform and use their skills. They include performing with the Salina Symphony, with world-renowned guest artists for the annual KWU International Music Festival and in small ensembles (quartets/trios), including the Honors String Quartet.

Musicians in the orchestra are:

Alicia Mora
Rebekah Hillis
Curtis Wedel
Denise Blehm*
Maria Bonilla
Nathan Streeter
Abigail Marshall
Emily Gardner
Shontel Gaddis
Autumn Friedhof
Ambrosee Wilkinson
Taylor McClain
Kacin Granzella
Kaitlynn Hazell
Rachel Holder
Thomas Forrester
Valerie Goertz
Emma Smith
Joseph Gogadi
Dena Berquist*
Peter Dilley
Brett Baldwin
Morgan Parker
Brandon Grabast
Judy Weber*

* indicates KWU faculty