Category Archives: Music

It’s that time again! Please notice that the peaches are expected to be ready early this year! We’re tentatively planning a July 30 pickup date.  Use the QR code in the flyer below OR click on the following link to place your order: https://forms.gle/Au4UsEfJ5WfrTBcw6

Please offer congratulations to the Hay Springs high school music students who participated in the District Music Contest on Wednesday, April 22nd held in Alliance. Attached you will find all the results from the day. The jazz band & choir received all superior rankings from all three judges, resulting in a plaque that will be hung in the hallway outside of the music room.

Results: https://hshawks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Results-DMC-2026-by-School-Hay-Springs.pdf

A special congratulations to the following students/events that received special awards:
Outstanding Performer:
Parker Wellnitz & Mason Albrecht-vocal duet-Shenandoah

Honorable Mention:
Parker Wellnitz, Mason Albrecht, William Gaswick & Janessa Dieriex-vocal quartet-Amani Utupe
Mason Albrecht-vocal solo-Create In Me
Mason Albrecht-tenor sax solo-Musette

I am extremely thankful to all the music students for their hard work and willingness to put themselves out there. Hay Springs was well represented.

In an attempt to make our Pre-Contest Concert, on Tuesday, April 21st at 7pm, a reasonable amount of time we are going to be hosting 3 smaller recitals during the school day. Students will be performing their solo or small group in the music room during their assigned performance time on their assigned performance day. These performances are open to the public, you will need to simply check in (and out when you’re leaving) at the front office prior to coming to the music room. I will also attempt to record these performances and send them to parents so they can see what their students have been working on. Here is an attached schedule with dates, times and students.

On Monday, March 30th, Hay Springs High School students performed at our PANCO Music Contest held in Crawford. Hay Springs won this contest with many scores of I & II’s. Students can earn between I-V.

The following students received special awards:
Jacob Dorshorst – Outstanding Brass Solo
Kinley Tausen & Emily Forney – Outstanding Woodwind Ensemble
Mason Albrecht – Honorable Mention Mens Vocal Solo
Dutch Weaver – Honorable Mention Brass Solo

Here are the results from the contest. Please make sure to congratulate the students on their hard work! We will perform again at our Pre-Contest Concert on Tuesday, April 21st and then a final time at the District Music Contest held in Alliance on Wednesday, April 22nd.

I-Reese Varvel – piano solo
I-Emma Albrecht – clarinet solo
II-Bailey Hankins – clarinet solo
II-Reese Varvel – clarinet solo
II-Sawyer Davis – bass clarinet solo
I-Easton Mintken – alto sax solo
I-Gage Dieder – alto sax solo
I-Mason Albrecht – tenor sax solo
I-Parker Wellnitz – bari sax solo
I-Parker Wellnitz – vocal solo
II-Larry Nelson – vocal solo
I-Cooper Krotz – vocal solo
I-Mason Albrecht – vocal solo – Honorable Mention Vocal Solo
II-Duke Turman – baritone solo
II-Reese Varvel & Megan Anderson – clarinet duet
I-Kinley Tausen & Emily Fornet – alto sax duet – Outstanding Woodwind Ensemble
I-Katara Yellow Thunder, Olivia Dahlgren, Tabby Schiaffo – clarinet trio
II-Shenandoah – Mason Albrecht & Parker Wellnitz
II-Riversong – William Gaswick, Luis Mata, Larry Nelson & Cooper Krotz
I-Blackbird – Larry Nelson & Parker Wellnitz
I-Jacob Dorshorst – trumpet solo – Outstanding Brass Solo
I-Dutch Weaver – trumpet solo – Honorable Mention Brass Solo
II-Adeline Fredrickson – trumpet solo
I-Tailyn Starke – trombone solo
I-Arian Mata – Baritone solo
I-Amani Utupe – Parker Wellnitz, William Gaswick, Janessa Dieriex, Mason Albrecht
II-All Is Found – Keri Ashley, Janessa Dieriex, Gracie Garza, Parker Wellnitz, Mason Albrecht, Luis mata
II-Jazz Band
I-Emma Albrecht, Bailey Hankins, Kinley Tausen – woodwind trio
I-Parker Wellnitz, Easton Mintken, Mason Albrecht
II-Percussion ensemble
II-Concert Band
II-Mixed Choir
I-Men’s Choir

Congratulations for the following students who participated in Class D All State Band on Saturday, March 21st at the UNK Fine Arts Building. Students rehearsed all day and then performed a concert in the evening.

Emma Albrecht – clarinet
Bailey Hankins – clarinet
Parker Wellnitz – alto sax
Mason Albrecht – tenor sax
Jacob Dorshorst – trumpet (Jacob was selected as the #1 trumpet!)
William Gaswick – percussion

Huge thank you to Erika Gaswick to came along as a parent sponsor. She was excellent help.