The Kids from Wisconsin, the state’s Musical Ambassadors of Goodwill, are ready for their 47th show season, and this brings a little “hometown flavor” as 33 talented Kids represent 31 different hometowns across the state of Wisconsin.
Arianna Day will be representing Platteville this summer.
Day is a Vocal Performance major at Viterbo University in La Crosse, where she is a member of the vocal jazz ensemble and concert choir, and was a cover for Pitti-Sing in “The Mikado” last spring. Throughout high school, Day was selected as a member of the Wisconsin School Music Association High School Honor Choirs for three years, Wisconsin Choral Directors Association honor choir, The Open Jar Institute in New York, roles in many UW–Platteville Heartland Festival productions, and Gilmer in “Godspell” at UW–Platteville. She was a Tommy Award recipient of Outstanding Lead Performer for her performance of “Aida” at Platteville High School. Day was a camp alternate for Kids in 2013 and will be a principal singer/dancer this summer.
Amanda Frisch of Wisconsin Dells, a junior at UW–Platteville, is the bass trombone player in the Kids. Frisch is working on her bachelor’s degree in Euphonium Performance. She is an avid doubler on the bass trombone. She is currently principal euphonium in UW–Platteville’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Bass trombone in Jazz One and Orchestra, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s Swing band. She is also a devoted chamber musician, recently recitaling with her tuba/euphonium quartet “Euphoria.” She will also be playing with the Hal Edwards Jazz Orchestra this summer.
Jacob Brandenburg of Hartland, a UW–Platteville freshman in mechanical engineering with a music minor, is a Kids woodwind player. Brandenburg studies saxophone under the direction of Allen Cordingley and performs in both the top jazz and wind ensemble at Platteville. He was the 2014 recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award at Arrowhead High school. In addition to being lead alto in both of Arrowhead’s bands, Jake performed with UW–Milwaukee honors groups UJAY and UWAY.
This year’s tour theme exemplifies a “Wisconsin Hometown” sentiment of “No Place We’d Rather Be.”
“Having a Hometown Kid in the Kids from Wisconsin is a great privilege to these communities,” said Executive Director Tina Weiss. “Our show program and performance introduces each Kid from their specific hometown. Having a hometown Kid is something to be proud of. Enjoying and participating in the Kid experience has had a positive impact on the lives of our 900 alumni and the nearly 5 million audience members inspired by our performances for nearly 50 years.”
Thirty-three of Wisconsin’s most talented youth, along with nine camp alternates, were chosen during state wide auditions in February. The troupe consists of 20 singer/dancers and a 13 piece show band.
Performing live annually for more than 120,000 across Wisconsin and the Midwest, the Kids from Wisconsin presents great entertainment with some of Wisconsin’s most talented performers ages 15–20. The revue is produced in collaboration with some of the country’s best writers, arrangers, and choreographers.
The Kids maintain a broad repertoire of music that includes the American favorites, big band, ’50s to ’80s classics, Motown, country, Broadway and current top hits, filling a two-hour fully staged performance.
The Kids will perform daily at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis Aug. 6–16.
The Kids’ first performance will be at West Allis Central High School June 24. The Kids will perform a free show hosted by Gotta Dance Academy of Performing Arts at Lancaster High School Sunday, July 12 at 7 p.m. The Kids will also perform at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts in La Crosse July 19 at 4 p.m., and the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in a free outdoor show Sunday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m.
The KIDS tour schedule is posted on the website: www.kidsfromwisconsin.org
