By Mia Herdeman, Current Staff
Two student groups are bringing an energetic groove to the West Bend High Schools.
Continue readingTag Archives: Leah Duckert-Kroll
Acclaimed Dance Group Coming to West Bend for Black History Month Celebration
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
These Jazz Cats Are In Rhythm
Meet the the new local band Melodic Impurities
By Michael Collins, Current Staff
Six music students have found an ambitious way to bring their love of jazz to West Bend.
Continue readingFiled under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
The Resiliency of the Music Department
COVID-19 presented challenges for choir, band and orchestra
By Kayla Lemens, Current Staff
After eight long months, the music department is finally returning to normal.
Continue readingFiled under School News and Features
An Oldie But a Goodie
WBHS senior helps revive old baseball tune with local ties
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
As the baseball season starts up again, a lost piece of Brewers history has been found and restored.
Continue readingFiled under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features, Sports
Banovich Joins Elite State Honors Band
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
After a safer-at-home audition, West Bend West High School junior Brionna Banovich has been selected as one of the top eight student bassoonists in the state of Wisconsin. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Italy Trip Postponed Until Next Year
Students understand, but still feel disappointed
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
Global illness concern has forced the West Bend High Schools band to reconsider their own safety.
Even before today’s announcement that the West Bend School District will close for the next four weeks due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the WBHS band had postponed their spring break tour of Italy. Since the trip will now take place during the spring break of 2021, current seniors will not be able to attend and are being issued full refunds. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
A Little Friendly Competition
Drum major Larscheidt challenges Tillman for first chair
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
Leah Duckert-Kroll, in her 17 years working with the West Bend High Schools Band program, cannot remember having two drum majors who play the same instrument. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Playing for Laughs
By Annika Olson, Current Staff
Leah Duckert-Kroll has put together an unusual twist for the upcoming West Bend High Schools band concert next week. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Trumpet Player Selected for Statewide Touring Revue
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
While most kids will be spending their summer hanging out with friends, one West Bend trumpet player will be touring with a distinguished music group. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
Music Department Surprised by Budget Changes
Officials say teachers should continue their programs as planned
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
By the time orchestra director Seth Matuszak learned what his budget was for the year, it was nearly spent. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Keeping the Beat for the Packers and the Bucks
By Lily Mottet, Current Staff
Thomas Agre never thought he would cheer on the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers from the band section of nearly every game. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Swillinger Composition Will Premiere at MYSO’s Spring Concert
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
For one local student, being involved in band doesn’t just mean performing pieces. It also means creating them.
John Swillinger, a senior at West Bend East High School, has been chosen to be a fellow for the John Downey Creation Project, where he will work alongside music professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to compose a piece for the prestigious Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. His composition will receive its world premiere in April at the group’s spring concert. He has participated in the ensemble for two years. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Hallway Abuses Have Really Gotta Go
How often do students use bathroom passes to skip class?
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Fewer students have been vanishing from Seth Matuszak’s classroom.
Both students and staff at the West Bend High Schools believe that the abuse of bathroom privileges during class time has been an issue in recent years, but some claim to have seen improvement so far this year. In the past, students have misused bathroom passes to skip large portions of class. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
The Polka Natural
By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief
Few people can say they have discovered their true passion in life at the ripe age of six, yet Joe Heger can.
Heger, a West Bend East High School senior, has been a musician since he was a six-year-old. He began by experimenting with the piano, but then found a new companion with the accordion. From there, his passion for music took off. Today he can play the piano, accordion, trumpet, bass guitar, drums, and, most recently, the concertina. All of this started when Heger became infatuated by none other than polka music. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Come for No Nonsense, Stay for Coffee
Student band will perform at the Hub’s ribbon cutting ceremony
By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief
No Nonsense is making its big break into the community.
The band will help kick off the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hub Thursday at noon. The Hub is a coffee shop opened by the Washington County Volunteer Center on Water Street in West Bend. There have been several soft openings, and a weekend-long Grand Opening will begin May 17. The ribbon cutting marks the beginning of regular business hours. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
Teaching History Through Music
Music scholar visited WBHS to talk about Jewish traditions
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
One way to study the Holocaust is by using your ears.
Amanda Ruppenthal Stein, a doctoral candidate in musicology at Northwestern University, visited band students at the West Bend High Schools Feb. 26 to deliver a presentation about Jewish music. Her presentation was part of the ongoing WBHS project to integrate the art, music, culinary and social studies departments for a Holocaust memorial taking place in April. All three band classes are playing pieces either by a Jewish composer or regarding the Holocaust. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
WBHS Will Celebrate Black History
February is Black History Month
By Kaitlyn Von Behren, Current Staff
Black History Month will be celebrated at the West Bend High Schools for the first time this year.
About 20 WBHS students will perform Feb. 8 in a Black History Month Celebration in the Silver Lining Arts Center. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
The West Bend Current 