A Shawano High School student will be one of 35 performers from across the state who were chosen to participate for the 2017 KIDS From Wisconsin show troupe. Senior Emily Jones says the honor of participating in KIDS was something she’s wanted to do since watching her cousin participate just a few years ago.
“I remember just watching KIDS when I was younger,” Jones recollected. “I sat next to my aunt actually and she turned and looked at me saying ‘this could be you one day’ and so ever since then I’ve been thinking about it. The opportunity seemed right. They were looking for trombone players and I play trombone.”
Jones says she one day plans to be a music teacher after earning her college degree and hopes this experience will set up valuable networking opportunities, along with making new friends.
She does acknowledge by performing for KIDS, it will present a unique challenge.
“They call it a two-hour Broadway show and for the band, that means almost two hours of constant playing,” said Jones. “I’ve talked to former KIDS and [Emily’s cousin] Brittany [Sperberg] and they said just make sure you’re really practicing your music before you get to camp, figuring out how to move with your instrument because you have to do a little dancing, and there’s some music you have to memorize, so make sure you’re in good playing condition.”
The KIDS From Wisconsin show troupe makes over 60 performances over the summer in front of more than 120,000 people across the Midwest.
They’ll make a stop locally in Shawano on July 5, as well as perform twice a day at the Wisconsin State Fair.