Waukon Music Department’s Pops Concert to showcase student talent this Friday ...
The Waukon Music Department will be hosting the 12th annual Pops Concert this Friday night, February 25 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with concert time at 7 p.m. The Pops Concert is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Allamakee Music Boosters, and it features high energy musical numbers from the 1950s through today. Groups performing will include the high school and middle school choirs, high school and middle school jazz bands, drumline, featured soloists, song and dance skits and emcees.
The Middle School Jazz Band will start off the concert with two songs the band has been working on, including “Jammin’ With Charlie,” and “Uncle Milo’s Sideshow,” both by Dean Sorenson. The band is directed by Tim Lund, Middle School Band Director, who states, “I’m so proud of the seventh and eighth graders who have given up countless hours of their study hall time to participate in jazz band. Their dedication and hard work doesn’t go unnoticed!”
The High School Jazz band will also be performing and will be directed by JoAnn Sherman, High School Band Director. Their songs will include “Come Out Swingin’,” “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Brass Attack.” Sherman will also direct the high school drum line playing “White Noise,” “Traffic Jam” and the crowd favorite, “Cow Bell.” “Our students love preparing for the Pops Concert. The soloists and specialty acts have the opportunity to showcase their talents while our large ensembles get to perform the pop tunes they love to sing,” states Sherman. “The students take such pride in this concert. It’s always a fun night for all the participants.”
Sarah Bieber, Grades 6-12 Vocal Music Teacher, will also be directing the following numbers, “The Bones” by country singer Maren Morris; “The Wellerman,” a whaling song; “Some Nights,” originally recorded by the rock band “Fun”; and “Jolene,” originally recorded by Dolly Parton. Bieber states, “The 6-12 Vocal Music Department students are more involved in the Pops Concert than ever before. I am incredibly proud of their dedication to their craft, and I look forward to showcasing their variety of musical talents at the concert. We have students playing piano solos, singing and accompanying themselves on guitars and ukuleles, performing musical theatre skits, and there is even a student performing an original rap/hip hop piece which you can find on Spotify and has even been heard on the local radio station Z93. These kids are up there doing what they love. I encourage any adult, teenager or child to attend this event. You will walk away in awe of these kids sharing their talents.”
The Pops Concert is also open to the public for a general admission fee which includes refreshments. The general admission seating is on a first come, first served basis in the bleachers and chairs located in the gym. The money raised from this event has been allocated in the past by the Allamakee Music Boosters to help purchase items such as drum line equipment, risers, pianos and various pieces of equipment for all grades, as well as providing scholarships for students attending camps. A Tastefully Simple Bakeless Bake Sale will be going on at the concert as well with numerous items offered. For more information, contact Brenda Dougherty at 563-568-7997 or email waukonpops@gmail.com. Submitted photo.
