History of Sunflower Performing Arts
The series started in 1982 as Hesston Performing Arts (HPA) with funding and planning provided by Hesston College and the Hesston community. In 1998 HPA planners launched a partnership with Bethel College, and the series name changed to Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts. For the 2020-21 season the series returned to Hesston College with a new name – Sunflower Performing Arts – but the season was postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- 2023-24
- series suspended
- 2022-23
- Sunflower Soirée
ensemble 4.1
Calmus: Christmas A Cappella canceled due to travel visa issues
Our Song, Our Story: The New Generation of Black Voices
Dr. Steven Spooner – Piano Concert
pax duo - 2021-22
- Sunflower Soirée
Canadian Brass
Mad River Theatre Works: Freedom Riders
VOCES8
Kevin Vaughn, organ, Stephen Lancaster, baritone - 2020-21
- season postponed
- 2019-20
- Donald Sinta Quartet
Lorelei Ensemble
Swingles: Winter Tales
Queen’s Cartoonists
Goitse - 2018-19
- The Cashore Marionettes: Life in Motion
Sons of Serendip: Holiday Show
The King’s Singers: Gold50
Armida Quartet: Mozart Exploded
The Ruth Moody Band - 2017-18
- Broadway’s Next Hit Musical
Vienna Boys Choir
Christmas with Mirari Brass Quintet
VOCES8
Berta Rojas, classical guitar, with Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra - 2016-17
- Big Muddy Dance Company
Cantus
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Montréal Guitare Trio
Sybarite5 - 2015-16
- Hot Club of San Francisco: Cinema Vivant
Cherish the Ladies: A Celtic Christmas
Minguet Quartet with guest Pianist Andreas Klein
Chanticleer
The Swingles - 2014-15
- Third Coast Percussion
Neal Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway
St. Louis Brass
The King’s Singers
Trio Voronezh - 2013-14
- JazzReach featuring the Metta Quintet
Wichita Chamber Chorale
Rachel de Benedet
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Soweto Gospel Choir - 2012-13
- Turtle Island Quartet
David Adam Moore performs Schubert’s “Winterreise”
Sweet Honey In The Rock
Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli” de Veracruz
Calmus - 2011-12
- Canadian Brass
St. Petersburg Quartet
Igudesman and Joo: A Little Nightmare Music
Celtic Crossroads
The Rose Ensemble - 2010-11
- The Wailin’ Jennys
Viver Brasil
Chanticleer
Lyric Arts Trio: American Voices
Three-Part Invention - 2009-10
- Kansas City Chorale
A Universe of Dreams—Ensemble Galilei with NPR’s Neal Conan
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Chatham Baroque
Lawrence Children’s Choir - 2008-09
- Rick Benjamin’s Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
Lieurance Woowind Quintet
The King’s Singers
David Munnelly Band
Trio Voronezh
John McCutcheon–HBPA Endowment Benefit concert - 2007-08
- Nathaniel Dett Chorale
Gil Shaham
Opera Kansas
Wailin’ Jennys
Boston Brass - 2006-07
- Chanticleer
Salzburg Chamber Soloists
Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony with guest Marc O’Connor
Doug Talley Quartet
Carrie Newcomer - 2005-06
- April Verch Band
Ustad Mahwash and Ensemble Kaboul
Soweto Gospel Choir
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Imani Winds - 2004-05
- Triple Play
Cleveland Duo and James Umble
Kansas Brass Quintet
The King’s Singers
Rajaton - 2003-04
- John McCutcheon
Scholars of London
Brazilian Guitar Quartet
Moscow Chamber Orchestra
Windsbacher Knabenchor (replaced by Kansas City Chorale) - 2002-03
- St. Louis Brass Quintet
Anonymous 4
Wichita Chamber Chorale Christmas Program
Klezmatics
Cantus
- 2001-02
- Chanticleer
Three Baritones and a Lady
Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Borromeo String Quartet - 2000-01
- Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers of Los Angeles
A Gershwin Party
Baltimore Consort
Jitro Czech Girls’ Choir
Beppe Gambetta - 1999-2000
- National Chamber Orchestra of Toulouse
American Boychoir
Sonny Bates
Singphoniker
Amici Trio - 1998-99
- The Nylons
Ballet Folklorico
“I Am Annie Mae” – Naomi Carrier
Chorovaya Akademia
John McCutcheon and Tom Chapin - 1997-98
- Wayland Pickard
Wichita Chamber Chorale
Pieces of Eight
Zhao Rongchun
Andes Manta - 1996-97
- Camerata Trajectina
Aileen and Elkin Thomas
“A Victorian Christmas Show” – The American Magic-Lantern Theater
Anonymous 4
Vivaldi Traveling Virtuosi - 1995-96
- Chanticleer
“Rembrandt: A Portrait” – Klaas Hofstra
The St. Olaf Choir
Rhythm & Brass
Tony Brown - 1994-95
- Mighty Clouds of Joy
The Falla Guitar Trio
Jitro
The Battle Cry Band
Singing City - 1993-94
- Ballet Folklorico de Veracruz
Special Consensus
The Vienna Choir Boys
Rick Sowash
The San Francisco Saxophone Quartet - 1992-93
- Butch Thompson Trio
Ensemble Europa
Pokrovsky – A Village Christmas
“Chopin Lives” – Robert Guralnik
The Elmer Iseler Singers - 1991-92
- Sister Sadie and the Famous Biblettes
The Chestnut Brass Company
Quink
Crofut and Brubeck: Anything Goes
The Vivaldi Travelling Circus - 1990-91
- The King’s Singers
Greene Magician
John McCutcheon
Calliope
Kroeker-Fast Piano Duo - 1989-90
- Mozart on Fifth
Phillip and Ellen Frohnmeyer
Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Mexico
New Christy Minstrals
The American Boychoir - 1988-89
- The Romanian National Choir
FRULA: Yugoslavian Folk Dancers
Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers
Bryan Bowers Bluegrass Autoharp
Chanticleer - 1987-88
- P.D.Q. Bach – Professor Peter Shickele
John McCutcheon
The Gregg Smith Singers
The Western Wind
Charles Pace Presents: “No Shackles on My Soul” - 1986-87
- The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers
The Broadway Marionettes present “A Christmas Carol”
The King’s Singers
Ballet Folclorico de Mexico
HPA Dinner Theatre “My Old Friends” - 1985-86
- “Will Rogers’ USA” – Gene McFall
Saint Louis Brass Quintet
New Swingle Singers
Vienna Choir Boys
The Stars from the D’Oyly Carte in “The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan” - 1984-85
- “Under the Yum Yum Tree” – Repertory Theatre of America
Romanian National Choir
I Solisti Italiani
The King’s Singers
Manitoba Mennonite Children’s Choir - 1983-84
- Eduardo Fernandez
The Vienna Choir Boys
The New Swingle Singers
James and Julie Rivers - 1982-83
- Bryan Bowers autoharp and Hot Rize
“The Nutcracker” – Tulsa Ballet
The Roger Wagner Chorale
An original two-act play based on the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe and Mark Twain – Boston’s Chamber Repertory Theatre