An estimated 200 to 250 School District of Fort Atkinson band students filled the Fort Atkinson High School gymnasium floor Sunday during the 65th annual Pops Concert. The event is held annually by the Band Boosters to raise funds for music programs throughout the district.
This year, students, grades 5-12, assembled in several different band configurations, including the Fifth Grade Band, the Fort Atkinson Middle School Jazz Ensemble, the Sixth Grade Band, the Jazz Messengers, the Seventh Grade Band, the Fort Atkinson Middle School Combined Bands, the Jazz Ambassadors, the Eighth Grade Band, the High School Band, and the Combined Fifth through 12th Grade Bands.
The bands played a bevy of songs, including: “Hooked on a Feeling,” by Mark James; “Pirates of the Caribbean,” by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer; “Rockabye River,” by Duke Ellington, and “Crazy Train,” by Daisley and Osbourne, among others.
An appreciative crowd filled the PremierBank gym’s bleacher seating, with some overflow of seating on the gym floor.
Photos from the event, taken by FAO photographer Kim McDarison, follow.
Fort Atkinson High School Principal Leigh Ann Scheuerell offers programs to Pops Concert attendees as they enter the PremierBank Gym.
A volunteer helps a patron understand the ticket system used to participate in the themed basket raffle. More than 60 baskets were available as part of the Band Booster’s fundraising event. This year’s program sponsors included Breber Music, Elkhorn; Rock River Optical; Artisan Graham Real Estate/Jeff Hoeye; Culver’s; Day Insurance; McDonald’s; Scheuerell Family, and Walmart.
The Burhalter children, not in pictured order, Jack, 1, Samuel, 4, and Aaron 7, find space on the bleachers in advance of the Pops Concert.
Fort Atkinson Middle School students find their seats on the gymnasium floor in advance of Sunday’s concert.
A middle school student gets ready to perform Sunday during the 65th Pops Concert. The annual fundraising event is organized by the Band Boosters.
Mom, Gerry Bardenwerper, and 2-year-old Nevaeh Beaster, find a seat in advance of the concert.
School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott welcomes concert attendees and introduces the first musical piece, played by students in grades 5-12 performing as one combined band.
Members of the district’s Fifth Grade Band perform as part of the combined group.
Fifth-Grade Band Director Andrea Haffelder, at center, standing, leads her pupils.
Members of the Fifth-Grade Band’s percussion section play.
Rockwell Elementary School Principal Jennifer Walden, addressing concert attendees, introduces the Fifth Grade Band.
Led by Middle School Band Director Sam Fettig, Standing, at right, middle school students prepare to play.
Middle school students play several tunes. Among them is “Low Rider,” by Jerry Goldstein, played by the Fort Atkinson Middle School Jazz Ensemble.
The middle school brass section plays.
A middle school drummer keeps the beat.
Middle School woodwind players are conducted by Middle School Band Director Sam Fettig, standing, center.
Band Booster President Colleen Larson addresses audience members. She shares thoughts about the importance of the annual fundraiser to the district’s music department before introducing the Sixth Grade Band.
A view of the audience from seats held by fifth-grade band members shows a full and attentive house.
Fort Atkinson High School Principal Leigh Ann Scheuerell introduces the high school Jazz Messengers as they prepare to play “Sister Sadie.”
A high school musician plays.
Fort Atkinson Middle School Principal Matt Wolf wishes student Avari Telfer a happy birthday before introducing the Seventh Grade Band.
Middle school woodwind players perform.
A member of the middle school percussion section plays.
More middle school percussionists play.
One of 27 percussionists in grades 6-8 plays.
A high school musician plays his saxophone.
Fort Atkinson High School musicians play.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School Band throw t-shirts into the audience.
Fort Atkinson resident Peter Scheibel, at left, as the winner of the event’s 50/50 raffle, wins $327.50. He is presented with his prize by Band Booster President Colleen Larson.
Middle School Band Director Sam Fettig, at center, joins his students as a member of the brass section.
Flanked by fellow band members, A middle school guitarist performs.
Fort Atkinson High School Band Director Justin Steger leads the high school band.
Members of the high school band brass section play.
High school percussionists play.
Members of the high school band woodwinds section play.
A clarinetist with the high school band performs.
Members of the high school band perform.
More high school band members perform.
Members of the high school band brass section perform.
Audience members enjoy the concert.
Concert-goers show their appreciation and enthusiasm following the concert’s final performance.
Fort Atkinson High School Band Director Justin Steger, from left, Fifth-Grade Band Director Andrea Haffelder, and Middle School Band Director Sam Fettig gather following the performance.