Waukon High School hosts NEIC Honor Music Festival, has 22 students participate


Waukon High School music students participate in NEIC Honor Choir ... The 22 Waukon High School music students pictured above and below participated in the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) Honor Music Festival, which was hosted by Waukon High School Monday, January 17 during a day where no school had been previously scheduled. The students are under the musical guidance of band director JoAnn Knipfer Sherman and vocal director Sarah J. Bieber. Pictured above are the Waukon High School participants in the NEIC Honor Band. Left to right - Front row: Tamara Guchshenkov, Abby Wiemerslage, Alaina Gebel, Bailey Sherman, Taylor Kiel; Back row: Cody Huinker, Logan Lubahn, James VanderVelden, Jacob Smith. Pictured below are the Waukon High School participants in the NEIC Honor Choir. Left to right - Front row: Olivia Dougherty, Madelyn Helgerson, Annie Ellingson, Kody Darnell; Middle row: Sarah Stock, Brenna Berns, Hannah Teslow, Reagan Lubahn, Hailey Houg; Back row: Gabe Goettel, Quinn Snyder, Caleb Perkins, Keira Miller. Submitted photos.

written by Alaina Gebel
Waukon High School junior and music student

Monday, January 17, six high schools from across the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) participated in the NEIC Honor Music Festival hosted at Waukon High School. Students from Charles City, Waverly-Shell Rock, Crestwood, Decorah, New Hampton and Waukon High Schools spent the day practicing music pieces under the guidance of two skilled directors, and then performed their musical selections in the evening at a concert held in the Dave Schoeberlein Gymnasium.

Among the attendees were 22 Waukon High School music students selected to participate. The students from Waukon High School are under the direction of vocal director Sarah J. Bieber and band director Jo Ann Knipfer Sherman.

Nearly 72 choir students had the pleasure of working with Dr. Mark Potvin from Detroit Lakes, MN throughout the day. Dr. Potvin has made an impact throughout his years of conducting at Princeton High School, Luther College, and various festivals and honor bands throughout his career.

Students who participated in the NEIC Honor Choir learned new vocal techniques, formed connections with other choir students, and sang impactful music. The choir students sang “Festival Sanctus” by John Leavitt, “O Love” by Elaine Hagenberg, “You Will be Found” by Max Huff, and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” by Rollo Dilworth.

Around 80 band participants were under the direction of Mr. Leon Kuehner, the former high school band director at Hampton-Dumont, chair of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education,  past-president of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, state chair of the American School Band Directors Association, and an advocate for music education for many years. Students loved his positive attitude, boundless enthusiasm, and countless stories that were shared throughout the day.

Band students were given the opportunity to Zoom call with composer Cait Nishimura, who created the beautiful piece “Chasing Sunlight”. Students played “Chasing Sunlight” at the NEIC Honor Band performance and were able to ask Ms. Nishimura questions about what inspired her to compose this piece of music, her strategy for writing music, and other questions relating to her compositions. Students also played the pieces “His Honor” by Henry Filmore and “Peregrin” by Douglas Akey.

Abby Wiemerslage, a senior at Waukon High School, stated, “My favorite part of the honor band was getting to make music with new people like the director and percussionists.”

Waukon High School Band Director Jo Ann Sherman commented, “We were excited to host the NEIC Music Festival this year. We only get to host this event once every seven years. Last year, COVID affected everything and our Conference did not hold this event. It was so good to have our students be able to collaborate with students from around the conference in such a positive and non-competitive way.”

“For the directors, it was great to get to see some of our colleagues who we may not have seen in almost two years,” Mrs. Sherman continued. “The day was a huge success. Ms. (Sarah) Bieber and I would like to thank the Music Boosters and our school administration for assisting us in making this event so successful.”