Owensboro High School took the stage at Kentucky’s 2023 All-State contest, as Percussion Ensemble and several other artists performed this year’s percussion show in a way they’d never seen before.
Ensemble Director Aaron Klausing said that the contest usually has one percussion ensemble perform every year, however it’s typically a standard 20-minute performance. Klausing said he felt the audience would enjoy a different type of show this year.
“I wanted to do our percussion show. We do one of these shows every year and I wanted to showcase that to the state because I thought that the membership would appreciate seeing something different in utilizing all the different art forms in the school system,” he said.
So by uniting percussion with band, orchestra, choir, and drama, Klausing and a 36-member group brought to life Reimagine.
Planning began back in May of 2022 for the show. Reimagine has nine numbers, six of which were co-arranged by Klausing and OHS Band Director Abram Barr.
Each part was composed with each student in mind and tailored to their abilities as a performer.
“When you make it personal, and you can tailor it to the individual, you’re not overwriting. You’re writing to their level that makes it that much more personal for that person playing whatever part it is,” Klausing said.
Klausing said by hosting a show each year it felt natural getting into their rhythm, and he said the audience was left in amazement.
“Everybody that came up to me said ‘you guys have changed the game,’ which is kind of what we were going for. We’re doing something unique, something that doesn’t normally happen in a lot of programs and it was really well-received,” Klausing said.
Klausing noted that the majority of the students performing were not a part of the percussion ensemble — eight of which were chorale members.
For OHS Choir Director Jenifer Wiggins, it was a great experience to have her students take part in something she feels they wouldn’t have had the chance to do otherwise.
“It gives our kids opportunities to work with other musicians who are as passionate as they are in their fields and that’s one of my favorite things about my job,” she said.
Given it was All-State week for the choral program, Wiggins said that she also had seven members in the All-State Choir. She is very proud of having that number earn state honors, given this year was one of the first years back to normal since the pandemic.
Through All-State, students get to sing with 200 other high schoolers from across Kentucky, allowing them to meet several other musicians passionate about the arts like them.
“That is just a really incredible gift for musicians, to have the shared experience,” Wiggins said. “You’re with the best musicians in the state and these are kids who are very passionate about what they’re doing.”
