MHS presents annual concert and art show

The theme for the variety show concert this year was “A celebration of music from the big screen” with presentations from around 40 members of the MHS Band and choir. Comedy skits and short trivia games were also included, ensuring the audience’s involvement and enjoyment.

Music teacher Nathon Towell commended his students for their hard work preparing for the event.

“Overall, the performance went really well. They did a nice job presenting the show, making it a good cohesive show that was entertaining for the evening. They did a great job at that,” Towell said.

“We only had one rehearsal going into it so musically, I think the kids were a little bit disappointed at how the actual music turned out; they knew they had performed it better in the past. They just did not have their musical game faces on due to the entire situation.”

Towell explained had to get special permission to host the show from Crook County School Board via Superintendent Mark Broderson for the variety show and conduct the performance over two nights due to limited capacity.

“This is not our typical place for the variety show; this was a stage performance so it was all special circumstances,” he said.

Towell hopes to conduct another “mini concert” in May with middle school students as well, “but we haven’t gotten the approval yet and with Covid, we’re not sure that approval will happen.”

This event was permitted by the school board to host about 80 guests in the audience, but was increased to around 150 including predominately parents and without masks just before the first performance.

Art Show

Art teacher Kasey Stroud spoke of the artwork displayed in the common area during the concert for the pleasure of guests.

“The pieces featured were selected from both Beginning Art and Advanced Art students at Moorcroft High School that was created throughout the school year. These talented students have created works that are reflective of their lives, their experiences and their individual voices, translating those into beautiful artwork,” Stroud said.

The work presented was a cross section of realistic and interpretive, heartwarming and wrenching.

Stroud welcomes and encourages students to express them in this medium. “I love providing a safe space for our kids to put their own ideas, experiences, and creative energy into a piece of art that reflects the voices of students that would otherwise not be heard,” Stroud continued, “It’s why I do what I do.”

“There are many talented students at MHS,” advocated Stroud, “Who have surprised themselves as much as the viewers. So much so that a few of our seniors have chosen art related fields to pursue as they continue their education post secondary.” 

Stroud will now take a group of students and their work to Casper for display at the Wyoming State Art Symposium. These pieces will compete for a special reward; the First Lady of Wyoming will select work that will be on display at the Governor’s Mansion in Cheyenne. 

Work will also be selected to travel back to Washington D.C. for display. If anyone would like to come to see this one of a kind display of high school artwork in the nation, the show is open to the public Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24 until noon.