Overdue recognition
Tucked away in the southwest corner of Marion County is a musical gem that not many people know about.
It's a little place that houses some of the best musicians in the state, even though its population is just under 600 people.
That place is Goessel.
The music system inside the Goessel USD 411 school district deserves to be recognized.
Wonder why? Let's hear a few of their recent accomplishments.
— The high school choir was recently taped and their performance played for the inauguration dinner of new Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
— Last December, the GHS Elbiata Singers were among several high school choirs chosen to between numbers (not on the stage) at the Manheim Steamrollers concert at the Kansas Coliseum.
— Many students, from high school and the elementary, from choir members to band members, have been recognized by the Kansas Music Educator's Association.
— Last fall, Goessel High School put on an awesome production of "The Sound of Music." No. 1, Tara Goerzen was an amazing Maria, and No. 2, I desperately wanted to sing along with the whole thing!
(OK, so this last one is a little biased. But, after all, this is an opinion piece.)
All this for a school district of 303 students from grades kindergarten through 12.
When high school choir director Greg Bontrager found out that his school had been selected for the inauguration, he said he was "majorly surprised."
He shouldn't have been surprised. Goessel has one of the best music programs of any small school district in the state of Kansas.
They should take pride in that.
— JENNIFER WILSON
