It’s been an incredible week for our Hershey Panthers in the arts — from inspiring performances to creative collaborations and statewide honors, our students continue to make Panther Nation proud!
Wednesday, six of our Hershey brass students took part in UNO Brass Day, and what an experience it was! They spent the day working with the talented faculty at the University of Nebraska Omaha, learning directly from professionals who specialize in trumpet, trombone, and euphonium performance. For our students, who come from a small rural district, this was a truly rare opportunity to experience professional-level instruction in person — something that YouTube videos and recordings simply can’t match.
The highlight of the day was a breathtaking performance by Mr. Peter Steiner (trombone) and Ms. Constanze Hochwartner (organ). Steiner, an internationally acclaimed trombonist from Italy, and Hochwartner, a gifted Austrian pianist and organist, delivered a concert that was both powerful and unforgettable. The sound of the organ filled the concert hall in a way that could be felt as much as heard — a tangible reminder of the beauty of live music.
Perhaps the most emotional moment came when our small-town Hershey students shared the stage with these world-class musicians. It was a proud, humbling experience for everyone involved — one that reminded us all why we do what we do and why opportunities like this matter so much for our students.
We’re also celebrating some more amazing achievements across the arts this week!
Congratulations to Danica Cleveland, who has been selected to participate in the Singing Youth of Nebraska Honor Choir on January 31 in Hastings! Out of more than 340 auditions statewide, only about 120 students were chosen — an incredible honor and a testament to Dani’s talent and hard work.
Hershey Panther Play Production team attended their first workshop of the season at NPCC, hosted by Maxwell. Although it wasn’t a competition, several of our students were recognized for their performances:
Lillian Fuchser – Katie
Amelia Lake – Eve
Abby Hiatt – Julie
Maddie Haddow – Rah
Quintin Pinkerton – Ug
Rachel Simonson – Jessica
Nolan Eustice – Guy
Many of these talented students are playing multiple roles throughout the show — a huge accomplishment! The cast will compete this Saturday at the Line 634 competition tomorrow at North Platte High School.
And finally, a big shoutout to everyone who took part in the 3rd Annual Kid’s Art Day at the Prairie Arts Center! Forty 7th–12th grade students from seven schools joined together for a day of creativity and collaboration. Special recognition goes to Layla Sanchez, Kennedy Layman, Natasha Parrish, and Addalyn Holes for their amazing collaborative piece inspired by the movie Coraline!