Speaking of Sports

By John Fragodt, Sports Reporter

There are only a few things I like as much as sports.  Music is one of those things.  I enjoy playing the piano and guitar, I love singing (by myself) and I played the saxophone in high school.  I was also a member of a couple musicals at Benson High School including the lead in Man of La Mancha my senior year.

Yes, music is a big passion of mine!

Well, I’ve had my share of great holiday music over the last few weeks courtesy of Pope County students.

It started with the 9th-12th grade Fall Band Concert, Nov. 19, which included the Varsity and Concert Bands, and the 7th and 8th grade Band Concert, Thursday, Nov. 21.  It continued with a kindergarten and 1st grade concert, Tuesday, Dec. 3, followed by the 4th, 5th and 6th grade concerts two nights later on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Well, I took it full circle last week, taking in the 2nd and 3rd grade Holiday concerts, Tuesday, Dec. 10; a concert for K-6th graders at Glacial Hills Elementary School, Thursday, Dec. 12 (at the Starbuck Community Center); and the Holiday Choir Concert, Saturday, Dec. 14 where I had the chance to  see the 7th-12th graders performing a variety of holiday songs.

Yes, that’s right, I had the chance to see almost all the K-12th grade students at Minnewaska Area Schools over the last three-plus weeks.  Wow!

Add in covering some other events like the Starbuck Holiday Parade, the Salvation Army Kettle kickoff at Tom’s Market, and the Glenwood Welcome Center’s Holiday family night as well as covering the season openers for all the MAHS winter sports teams, and it’s been a very busy picture time for me from late November through mid-December.

I really don’t mind, though, as that’s one of my favorite things to do with my job; taking pictures.

I’ve been very impressed with the MAHS music department and this year’s holiday concerts certainly reaffirmed those thoughts.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I still have the 5th and 6th grade Band Concert, set for Tuesday (tomorrow).

With so many holiday concerts I’ve attended, no wonder I can’t get holiday songs out of my head . . . Oh well, I guess it is almost Christmas.  Have a great week!