NEWELL-Austin Auditorium was full of family members ready to hear many beloved songs ranging from “Wipeout” to “Stairway to Heaven.” Newell School students had practiced long hours and were ready to show their talent and enthusiasm.
K12 Band/Music teacher, Kim Bachman, led each group with as much joy as the students and folks in the audience. Her love of music and children showed through with the excellence of the kids’ performances.
Several of the musical presentations were accompanied by Bachman on her banjo, mandolin or guitar. Local musicians Kurt Hocking and Marty Jump joined in for part of “Ring of Fire.” Michelle Stockert, Cheryl McCann, Bailey Yule, and Betty Bruner, along with student flute players joined together to play “Stairway to Heaven” with guitarists Bob Lewis, Maynard Yule, and Bruce Neubert. The guitarists and fiddler Katie Sprague played interludes between songs.
The evening opened with laughter as Fifth Grade students “danced” their way into the hearts of the audience. They had perfected a skit with “puppets” attached to onesies as they sate behind a screen.
The concert band made up of 5th to 12th grades showed a remarkable talent as they played “Wipeout” and a medley.
Next were the kindergarten and first grades singing “Watermelon, Watermelon” and “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” They finished their set with “Baby Beluga.”
Second and third grade told the audience that they “Can’t Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd” and then ended with “Kindness Song” and “Good Dog.”
Five gallons buckets were front and center for the fourth and fifth grades as they drummed their way through the “Yellow Submarine.” Then they sang a medley of “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to be Cowboys” and “Ring of Fire.” They ended with “Sweet Child of Mine.”
Not be left out, the Middle School/High School Choir say a folk song about fox hunting. Jenna Yule and Africa Schulte accompanied the group on the Xylophone while the choir sang “Everyday.” Jenna Yule played the piano while the choir finished with “Perfect.”
As the entire ensemble sang “Wagon Wheel” the adults joined on the dance floor. It was a grand-Grand Finale!
Bachman noted later that the Newell band is growing with 29 students joining the band this year. She extends an invitation to all interested students to join this fall for the 2025-2026 School Year. There will be summer lessons beginning in August.
An invitation was all passed on to plan to attend the Fine Arts Awards Banquet on May 5 at 6 p.m.
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