District Holds First Fifth-Grade Honor Choir Festival

Waukee Community School District held its first Fifth-Grade Honor Choir Festival on October 29. The event was held at the Lutheran Church of Hope Waukee and featured 90 fifth-graders.

Over the last several years elementary music teachers have been taking students to local honor choirs, hoping to one day host their own. This year their dream became a reality. Each interested fifth-grade student went through an audition process at their elementary school. Through that process, 10 students from each school were chosen to participate.

Students practiced at their schools with their music teachers before or after school throughout the month of October learning and memorizing the music in preparation for the performance.

“The day was amazing.  The students were wonderful representatives of their schools and families,” said Brookview Music Teacher Ann Swenson. “I want to send a special thanks to the Waukee Vocal Music Boosters who donated t-shirts for every child, Waukee Hy-Vee who donated pizza, cookies, and water for all of the students and teachers to eat for supper, and Lutheran Church of Hope Waukee for being phenomenal to work with!”

All elementary music teachers in the district were involved in the planning and execution of the honor choir along with middle school vocal music teachers Shelly Schaeufele and Brett Gregory. Schaeufele was the guest conductor and  Gregory assisted with solo auditions.