By Chris Spangler
The sound of music filled Fort Atkinson High School’s auditorium Friday evening as students presented their Show Choir Coda Concert.
Not only did it conclude the 2020-21 school year for the South High Street Singers, Lexington Singers, 4th Street Singers and their combo and crew, but it also ended director Craig Engstrom’s three decades of teaching in Fort Atkinson on a high note.
In addition to an auditorium full of enthusiastic music lovers, on hand to help him celebrate his retirement were 44 South High Street Singers alumni who had sung and danced for Engstrom as far back as the 1996-97 school year.
“I have been truly blessed by the people that I’ve been able to work with for so long,” Engstrom said after the alumni joined the South High Street Singers on stage for the finale, “Ray of Sunshine.”
He thanked his parents; wife, Denise, and children, Brittany Agnew, Hannah and Ian; and other family members.
“They are the most supportive parents I could be blessed with. It’s just amazing,” he said, expressing appreciation for the “sacrifices they (all of his family members) have had to make for me to make this program a successful program …
“They mean the world to me — and they (the show choir students behind him) mean the world to me, but of course, my family comes first, and I am so excited by the fact that I am able to start the next part of my life spending more time with my family,” Engstrom added.
He also thanked keyboardist Jim Athas, calling him “one of the amazing musicians I have ever met in my life.”
Athas has been working with Engstrom and the snow choirs’ combo for six years.
“I have been blessed with so many amazing musicians, and Jim and I realty click and work well together,” Engstrom said. “I can’t be more thankful to him and his wife, Barb, for everything they have done for this music department since we’ve gotten to know each other really well, so Jim, thank you very much.”
Engstrom also thanked his longtime choreographer, Ben Schrank, a Milton native who now resides in Iowa and who he said “has been a rock for this program.
“His innovation, his hard work and dedication … To me, it’s just unbelievable how much he cares about your kids and this program,” he told the parents in the audience. “…He has show choir running through his body.
“To my dear friend, Ben, thank you so, so much for everything,” he added.
The retiring teacher also thanked technical director John Collins.
“This person I owe the world to, and this one is going to be really hard to not have around,” Engstrom said of Collins. “He knows the inside and outside of this building, he knows everything that’s going on in our department and always, always makes sure that things go well.”
From organizing ticket sales and special effects to lighting and sound, Collins is an integral part of the department’s success, Engstrom said.
“… traveling with us endlessly, doing anything that he can possibly do to make somebody else’s life easier. That is his mantra. And if you ever in your life have somebody that you come in contact like this, hang on, because they’re going to be a best friend for life.,” he added with a tremor in his voice. “It’s going to be hard to not work with him.”
Thanks also went to VOICES, the music department’s support organization Engstrom started in 1992; the administration; custodians; and all of the music staff today and in the past.
“The list goes on and on and on, and tonight having alumni come back to join us at the end of the show, is just so awesome,” Engstrom said. “I am so truly blessed to have been in a community that has been so supportive of me and my family, these kids and celebrating music and bringing some joy into this community, and now looking on, I just thank you so, so much for everything you’ve done.”
Engstrom had been a choral director in St. Ansgar, Iowa, for two years before arriving in the School District of Fort Atkinson in 1991. His 30-year career started as a music teacher for both Rockwell Elementary School and the high school.
The high school program choral program grew during the first two years of his becoming full time there, from one concert choir and one show choir to three concert choirs and two competitive show choirs.
Engstrom earned a bachelor of arts degree in music from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and master’s of education in professional development from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
A member of the Fort Education Association, he is a past member of the American Choral Directors Association and Music Educators National Conference.
Career highlights include having been a Wildermuth Award for Excellence in Education nominee, having been named Top Notch Teacher by Madison’s WISC-TV/Channel 3000 and having been presented the Modern Woodmen Hometown Hero Award.
He has judged several regional show choir competitions, is a member and president of the Fort Atkinson Community Theatre, and is a cooperating teacher for UW-Whitewater Field Study, as well as an advisor for student teachers.
His career includes more than 40 musicals as music or music and artistic director. He has created 70 competitive show choir performances that have been presented throughout the Midwest and Southeast.
In addition, Engstrom started the Fort Showcase Show Choir Invitational, which has hosted as many as 24 show choirs annually for the past 25 years. These show choirs have come to Fort Atkinson from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and North Dakota.
Meanwhile, Engstrom also has been a part-time travel agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels for the past five years, and he will be moving to full time following his school district retirement.
He has said he also plans to become re-involved with the Fort Atkinson Community Theatre and his partner-owned theater company, Rock River Theatre Guild.
Also on Friday night, show choir members having earned 300 points were presented their first letter and those with 600, their second one.
Seniors were recognized, with three special awards also presented.
Luis Luciano was presented the Arion Choir Award, Cameron Andrews was named Outstanding Combo Member and Alexandra Alvera-Lara was the recipient of the Shane Weber Award.
Highlights from Friday’s concert, courtesy of Tom Roe, may be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/100007446334168/videos/3198213327103514, and https://www.facebook.com/100007446334168/videos/3198193137105533.
The 4th Street Singers of Fort Atkinson Middle School performed Friday in the Show Choir Coda Concert. Here, soloist Lily Rodriguez takes front and center singing “I Hope You Dance.”
Fort Atkinson Middle School’s 4th Street Singers performed four songs during Friday’s Show Choir Coda Concert at Fort Atkinson High School. Here, they “jump, Jive an’ Wail.”
The South High Street Singers’ men performed “Green Tractor Medley’ Friday during the Show Choir Coda Concert.
Mara Zanin was the soloist for “Finding Wonderland” when the Lexington Singers performed Friday in the Show Choir Coda Concert at Fort Atkinson High School.
The Lexington Singers perform ‘Forget About the Boy” from “Thoroughly Modern Millie” during the Show Choir Coda Concert Friday at Fort Atkinson High School.
The Lexington Singers kicked off Friday’s Show Choir Coda Concert at Fort Atkinson High School with “She Wolf.”
Above two: Past members of Fort Atkinson High School’s South High Street Singers join in the performance of “Ray of Sunshine” at the Show Choir Coda Concert Friday. They returned to salute retiring director Craig Engstrom. Afterward, they gathered for a photo with current choir members.
Retiring choir director Craig Engstrom sings a solo in the finale of the Show Choir Coda Concert Friday. The Fort Atkinson High School teacher has been in the school district for 30 years.
The South High Street Singers perform “Kids of the Future” during the Show Choir Coda Concert at Fort Atkinson High School on Friday.
The South High Street Singers perform “Kids of the Future Medley” at Friday’s Show Choir Coda Concert. The tune included “Born to Be Brave” and “Kids Are OK.”
Gwen Hirtz and Jackson Sitkiewitz were the soloists in “Once When I Was Young” Friday during the Show Choir Coda Concert at Fort Atkinson High School. They are members of the South High Street Singers.
Above two: The South High Street Singers performed their final event of the season Friday at the Show Choir Coda Concert at Fort Atkinson High School. Wearing colorful bib overalls, they looked back at their childhood and then forward to the future through song and dance, including “Happy Kids Medley” with “Rubber Duckie.”
Graduating members of the South High Street Singers are presented with a gift during the Show Choir Coda Concert Friday night.
Fort Atkinson High School choir director Craig Engstrom displays a guitar-playing garden gnome as a retirement gift from seniors in the South High Street Singers. A bedazzled garden gnome named Bjorn has been a mascot of sorts for the choir.
Craig and Denise Engstrom pose with their children after Friday’s Show Choir Coda Concert at Fort Atkinson High School. It marked Craig’s final concert, as he is retiring after 30 years as a choir director in the School District of Fort Atkinson.
Cierra Essock of Hustisford, left, and Jenna Engfer of Minneapolis, smile for a photo before entering the Fort Atkinson High School auditorium Friday for the Show Choir Coda Concert. The two were members of the South High Street singers during the 2011-13 and 2009-12 school years, respectively. Wearing alumni T-shirts, all of the former members were on stage for the South High Street Singers’ finale tune.
Forty-four alumni of the South High Street Singers returned to perform in the show choir’s final concert of the school year at Fort Atkinson High School Friday. Wearing purple alumni T-shirts and shown entering the auditorium, they included Nathan Kozak of Fort Atkinson, right, who was in the choir from 2008-12; Austin Trevino, Fort Atkinson, center, a member from 2014-17; and Katie Grant, in the background, a show choir member from 2003-06.
Brittany Agnew, left, and Alyssa Hannam, both of Fort Atkinson, are two of the 44 South High Street Singers alumni who participated in Friday’s Show Choir Coda Concert. It also marked the final concert directed by Craig Engstrom, who is retiring after 30 years in the Fort Atkinson schools. Brittany, who was in the show choir from 2009-12, happens to be one of Engstrom’s two daughters. Alyssa performed in the South High Street Singers in 2016.
Gunnar Ehlers of Fort Atkinson enters the Fort Atkinson High School auditorium Friday for the Snow Choir Coda Concert. Behind him are Drew and Jessica Hansen of Fort Atkinson. Gunnar and Jessica are South High Street Singers alumni who were in the group from 2012-16 and 2003-05, respectively.
Above three: from the program, the following singers took the stage on Friday.
Chris Spangler photos.
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