Goessel choir asked to sing for governor's inauguration
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
When Greg Bontrager got the call just a few days before Christmas break, he was "majorly surprised."
"It was totally out of the blue," he said.
What was Bontrager's shocking news? Just this: that his Goessel High School choir would be singing for the governor's inauguration ceremony.
At least, their voices will be there.
The GHS 80-voice choir is just one of two other schools to be chosen to have their musical talents on display at the event. The other two schools are Maize High School and Lawrence Free State High School.
Bontrager is glad to be in such excellent company.
"I've heard their choirs, and they're incredible," he said.
For the performance, each school will sing one verse of "America the Beautiful." Their numbers were to be recorded and then played at the governor's inauguration dinner on Monday, Jan. 13.
Bontrager was contacted by Steve Eubank, a music teacher at Topeka West High School, who is setting up the music for the inauguration events.
"He could have had his group sing the whole song, but he wanted to use other high schools," Bontrager said.
Goessel's choir was originally asked to sing the second verse, but Bontrager asked if his group could sing the first verse — and Eubank agreed. All three choirs will use the song's arrangement found in a specific Methodist hymnal so they'll match each other musically.
Wednesday morning, officials from Topeka came to Goessel to digitally record the 80-voice GHS choir. The performance was also caught on a digital camcorder.
"I think (the students) feel that it's a huge honor just to be asked," Bontrager said.
