Hundreds of student musicians from 92 high schools in Nebraska were part of the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s honor choir and band Jan. 30.
Among them were 19 students from Seward High.
The students, selected by audition, worked with UNK faculty and guest instructors and presented concerts at the end of the day.
Meeting new people was a highlight for many of the musicians.
Choir
Senior Emma Lowther said she also enjoyed meeting new people and singing in a new group. The challenge was getting the balance right, she said.
Ellen Klintworth, senior, said the rehearsal and working with the new director were highlights. She said the director shared passion and fire and “a lot of dad jokes.”
“It was great to sing with other people,” she said.
Hannah Bierbaum, a junior, Sophie Matthias, a sophomore, and Grace Roberts, a senior, said they enjoyed making friends with the girls sitting around them. Matthias said some came from as far as six hours away.
For Roberts, the biggest challenge was being separated from the rest of the Seward singers.
Julya Metschke, a junior, said working with a new director in a new environment was fun.
“It’s different from what I’m used to,” she said.
Andres Lopez, a senior, liked working with a new choir and making new sounds. He sat by a singer he’d met at all-state choir, so it was fun to reconnect, he said.
“It was a really fun experience,” he said. “It’s something I can remember and cherish.”
Junior Sjoen Munk put the concert at the top of his list. He liked the way the choir sounded together.
He said the experience is one that will help musicians enjoy choir more.
Audrey Dobesh, senior, and Domenic Artigas, junior, said the performance was the highlight of day.
“I love performing. It was cool to be with a big group,” Dobesh said.
Artigas said it was fun to watch other choirs perform, as well.
“Think of Me” from “The Phantom of the Opera” was a favorite for some of the sopranos.
Nicole Kenney, junior, said figuring out the balance was tough. The first sopranos were stronger because they knew the part better than the second sopranos and altos, she said.
Senior Jenna Blersch said the song was pretty to hear and sing.
“You don’t often get the change to get out and sing with others,” Blersch said.
Dobesh hadn’t seen the music, so learning it and memorizing it in a short time was a challenge.
“It’s a new experience you don’t get in your school,” she said.
Karnie Gottschalk, senior, said learning the new music and becoming comfortable with it in one day was tough.
“It was stressful at times,” she said.
She had fun singing with new people in a new environment.
Artigas said he hadn’t seen much of Nebraska, so the trip to Kearney was a chance to see more.
For many of the students, the biggest challenge of the day was navigating the UNK campus.
“Julya (Metschke) and I got lost a few times,” junior Emily Bujarski said with a grin.
Others said performing with students at different levels was a challenge, as well.
For Matthias, the biggest challenge was learning a new language in a small amount of time.
“It was a really good experience to get better at singing,” Matthias said.
The learning curve was different, junior Taylor Hostert said, with musicians learning to work together.
It was a long day, Blersch said, and trying to get everyone on the same page when they hadn’t rehearsed together had its moments.
Kenney would recommend honor choir to anyone who enjoys choir.
“You meet new people and grow as musicians,” she said.
Blersch said she would recommend honor choirs to anyone considering a music major. It’s a good chance to experience a college’s music department and see the campus first hand.
Band
Xander Foulk, junior, enjoyed the day.
“It’s a good learning experience to go to,” he said. “Playing with different people and a director gives different insight and tidbits of knowledge.”
Sophomore Maya Hubach said it was fun to learn in different ways from a new director. The challenge was getting the balance right.
“It was a great learning experience,” she said.
Hannah Peetz, senior, said she liked the energy and upbeat feel of the day.
“Being around band kids, it went by fast,” she said.
Her challenge was learning the music.
“I didn’t look at the music before, so I was sight reading it,” she said.
Eli Adams, senior, said the biggest challenge was the limited time to put the concert together.
“It was great to create music with a group of people who are good at what they do,” he said.
He most enjoyed being around people “who love what they do the same as you.”
