DC3 Adds New Vocal Concert at Historic Church

Published November 18, 2025

The historic Hanston Mennonite Church will host the DC3 Vocal Music Department for a holiday candlelight concert on Dec. 10 through a new partnership with the Hanston Mennonite Heritage Foundation. [Photo by Lance Ziesch]

Through a new partnership, Dodge City Community College (DC3) and the Hanston Mennonite Heritage Foundation (HMHF) are joining forces for the college’s first-ever holiday concert at the historic Hanston Mennonite Church at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10.

The new concert, titled “Carols by Candlelight,” will take place at the 101-year-old Hanston Mennonite Church, located at 35497 N.E. Q Rd.—about 1½ miles north and 2½ miles west of Hanston—as part of the college’s latest service-learning project.

“The choir takes its service-learning projects very seriously,” Kerry J. Kuplic, DC3 Professor of Vocal Music, said. “Sometimes, we raise money for area charities, other times we share our music at area schools, and other times we provide entertainment for residents at retirement homes. This year, we’re excited to partner with the Hanston Mennonite Heritage Foundation to become a part of the church’s candlelight service tradition.”

Kuplic said service learning is about highlighting the unique programs and services DC3 can provide to the community, and he is “tremendously excited” about this new initiative.

“This concert will be a meaningful, joyous way to connect with a new partner in the community,” he said. “We love taking our music out into the community, and the idea of being able to perform at a new-to-us venue is exciting. In a sense, we’re helping bring new life to a historic church that has stood on the Plains for generations. There’s a place for big, bombastic music in a large space, but there’s something really magical about performing more introspective and personal songs in a smaller venue.”

Lance Ziesch, who serves as DC3’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations and as President of the HMHF, said the foundation is equally excited about the new collaboration.

“The HMHF was formed following the closure of the Hanston Mennonite Church, with the goal of preserving the church building and adjacent cemetery for future generations,” he said. “But our mission goes beyond simply maintaining the property as a historical site—we want to keep it alive and relevant by hosting meaningful community events there each year. This partnership with DC3 is a great example of that vision in action.”

The Hanston Mennonite Church, built in 1924 and originally known as Einsiedel Mennonite Church, is a little white church on a hilltop overlooking the community of Hanston.

“There aren’t many old country churches like this remaining in our area,” Ziesch said. “When you open the door, it’s like stepping back in time.”

Although there is additional seating in the church’s tiny balcony, the building can only comfortably fit about 115 people, he said.

“So, this will definitely be a more intimate DC3 concert experience for both the musicians and the audience,” he said. “If people want a seat, they had better come early!”

Kuplic said concertgoers will be treated to a wide variety of seasonal music—from sacred classics to modern compositions—and he hopes the program will inspire listeners to reflect on the lyrics and the true meaning of the holiday season.

“So many of my students tell me that Christmas music is their favorite genre of music,” he said. “So, programming this concert is going to be an exciting undertaking. Students will get to showcase their solo voices in a different way than at our other concerts.”

Cheyenne Davis, a sophomore from Bucklin, Kan., said that she thinks the Hanston Mennonite Church concert will provide “a lovely and meaningful experience” for both singers and listeners.

“This beautiful church will offer a calm and peaceful space to share music with gentle acoustics that will allow each voice to carry naturally,” she said. “The setting will add a quiet beauty to the performance, helping our songs feel sincere and soothing rather than upbeat or showy. More than just a performance, this will be a time to connect and create moments that we hope will leave a lasting impression.”

By DC3 Marketing and Public Relations Staff