Heartland Mixed Chorus opens the show at WinterSong on Saturday, Feb. 21 – Photo courtesy Kerri Pankratz/Henderson News
Henderson News Reprint
Written by Kerri Pankratz
HENDERSON — “The Mists of Time” hung heavy in the air upon entering the old gymnasium at Heartland Community Schools on Saturday, February 21. Those mists, of course, were courtesy of Paul Watson, Marlen Hohnstein, and Rick Johnson, who provide the lighting and “atmosphere” every other year when the Heartland Vocal Music Department puts on its semi-annual WinterSong performance.
As vocal instructor Lynn Hall stated at the end of the night, their participation, along with a slew of others, “somehow manages to turn this 70-year-old gym into a nightclub full of ambiance.” Or something to that effect.
Of course, the “misty atmosphere” may also have been due to the many “misty” eyes in the audience due to the fact it was Mr. Hall’s final WinterSong production at Heartland as he will retire at the end of this school year.
The very first WinterSong production took place in 2008 and then proceeded to continue happening every other year, opposite of the school musicals, and let’s not even get into how much the musical productions will miss Hall.
There was once again no shortage of talent provided by Heartland High School students. The Mixed Chorus, Girls Chorus, and Boys Chorus all performed well-known, current-day numbers, while many of those same students showed great bravery by taking to the mics for solo performances.
And what trust Hall has in his students, allowing them to choose their own songs to perform. I’m sure a few get vetoed here and there, but it’s always an impressive assortment of musical choices.
Some of my personal favorites included “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls and sung by Mary Dente and Amanda Goertzen, NGL sung by Katelyn Franz while playing piano for herself, something I can not comprehend doing, and of course Hayden Powers singing “Open Arms” by Journey and cousins Braden, Luke and Maddy Janzen teaming up on “Clocks” by Coldplay brought the house down. I also have to mention the fact that Braden played drums while singing lead. That’s not exactly common… unless you’re Phil Collins.
Braden and Luke were also members of the “House Band” for the evening, with Braden on drums, Luke on bass, Jay Kroeker on guitar, and both Marilyn Kroeker and Mr. Hall on keyboards. I’m not sure what will ever happen if both Jay and Marilyn decide to hang it up, as they’ve provided “back-up” in one way or another for countless musical productions over the years.
On Saturday night the “House Band” backed up almost every performance given which included: “If I Could Turn Back Time” by the Mixed Chorus; “Landslide” by the Girls Chorus; “We Hug Now” by Abby Nolan, Julia Tessman and Katy Farrall”; “Time In a Bottle” by Holden Switzer; “Iris” by Mary Dente and Amanda Goertzen; “Ordinary” by Holden Perez; “Turn Back Time” by Adi Duerksen; “100 Years” by the Mixed Chorus; “Song of the Misty Mountains” by the Boys Chorus; “Travelin’ Soldier” by Lexi Inglsbee; “20 Somethin’” by Brian Bearinger; “TV” by Mary Dente; “Thank God I Do” by Kate Franz, Faith Hiebner and Mia Hiebner; “Open Arms” by Hayden Powers; “The Times They are a Changin’” by the Mixed Chorus; and finally “Clocks” by Braden, Luke and Maddy Janzen. Mia Hiebner also opened the evening with a piano prelude.
Kim Janzen once again volunteered to provide the beautiful and creative table decorations, which tied in with the “Mists of Time” theme and included clocks, hourglasses, and photo frames of musical performances throughout Mr. Hall’s illustrious career at Heartland.
Jaime Oswald was once again busy along with what Hall referred to as her “Charcuter-minions” preparing individual charcuterie boxes filled with all kinds of goodies for everyone in attendance.
Before the final song of the night, Hall took to the microphone to give thanks to everyone involved, while also attempting to keep it together himself. He gave special thanks to all of his students and then gave one very special shout-out by saying, “If you know me at all, then you know that wherever I am, Daphne (his wife) is right behind me.” So very true.
Kara Janzen then came forward and said a few words and presented Hall with a beautiful plant courtesy of the senior class, after which the audience rose to give him a lengthy and much-deserved standing ovation, not the last one he’ll be receiving come the end of this, his final school year.
Photos courtesy Kerri Pankratz/Henderson News
