Nowlin Middle School Students Perform at Kauffman Center

Months of hard work by the Nowlin Middle School Black and Gold Choir culminated Wednesday when the group sang from the stage of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Nowlin’s Black and Gold performed for music educators from seven states during the American Choral Director’s Association Southwest Regional Conference. Nowlin was the only middle school choir invited to this prestigious event and one of just three schools from the Kansas City area chosen to perform.

“Getting selected to perform for a conference is one of the highest honors a choir can receive,” said Ryan Main, director of choirs at Nowlin and Van Horn High School and an ISD graduate himself. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Black and Gold Choir members have been working with music professors from U.M.K.C., Emporia State and William Jewell and recently performed at churches and schools in Topeka and Emporia in preparation for what Main calls “the big day.” The Black and Gold performed two new pieces, written specifically for the conference and featuring several guest musicians, including 2016 Grammy-winning ISD music teacher Phillip Enloe. Main said the honor speaks volumes about the choir’s work ethic and the ISD’s commitment to music education.

The American Choral Director’s Association Southwest Regional Conference featured performances by choirs from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri.