Hentus van Rooyen in Recital at Bethany College

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.