Central College Community Orchestra announces Kris Van Vark DeWild, 1990 Central graduate and adjunct instructor of music, will serve as the orchestra’s new director.
The CCCO is an intergenerational string ensemble performing music in a variety of styles and genres. Its members include Central students, faculty and staff, as well as active and retired musicians in the community.
DeWild has been a member of the CCCO since the late 1980s, playing the harp, piano, organ and string instruments. As a nontraditional student at Central, DeWild enrolled as a mother of two daughters and employee in Central’s clerical department. She studied under Davis Folkerts, professor emeritus of music and a 1960 Central graduate, who served as her advisor, key instructor, mentor and organ instructor.
Her daughters Amber Van Vark Reed, a 2000 Central graduate, and Alison Van Vark Beiler, 2001 Central graduate, followed in their mother’s footsteps.
“They chose Central because of my great love for the institution,” DeWild says.
She is a founding member of the Pella-based Scholte Strings. This year she will bring the two ensembles together in a new partnership, strengthening the Imagine More initiative to further promote college and community engagement. Scholte Strings is a community nonprofit organization that helps support the orchestra.
“Since community members make up half of the orchestra, we can pull our weight and fundraise in collaboration with Central’s support,” DeWild says. “Central provides college credits for participation, a beautiful venue and a full library. We are pioneering this model of collaboration for the future.”
Performances
The Fall 2025 concertmaster is Luci Laidlaw, Class of 2026, a music education major. DeWild praises Laidlaw as an excellent leader and gifted musician. Laidlaw will be featured as a soloist in the CCCO fall concert, performing J.S. Bach’s “Violin Concerto in A Minor” with the orchestra.
The first concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Chapel, upper level, on Central’s campus.
Looking ahead, DeWild has appointed Charlee Gililland Eekhoff, a 1998 Central graduate, as the next concertmaster for CCCO. Eekhoff is the director of orchestras for Pella Community Schools and a member of both the CCCO and Scholte Strings.
History
Central’s orchestra is an important part of the college’s long-standing music tradition and a core component of its fine arts program. One of the earliest documented orchestra performances was in the 1913 Pelican Yearbook, when a six-piece orchestra performed during the Advance Banquet on March 15. During the war years, membership fluctuated. One notable performance in 1942 was Handel’s “Messiah,” performed with the Central choir and directed by the late Carl Senob, professor of music.
Musicians interested in joining the CCCO may contact Hannah Stephenson, events manager for music, at stephensonm@central.edu or DeWild at dewildk@central.edu.
