The primary focus of the evening’s fundraising efforts is a campaign to replace the high school choir’s aging performance attire. Students have been wearing the same dresses and tuxedos since 1998, many of which are now tearing and showing severe wear after nearly three decades of use. 

“Our dresses are ripping, our suits are tearing,” said Kylie Beran, the booster club’s treasurer. The boosters have set a goal of $18,000 to purchase 90 new, inclusive choir robes designed to accommodate diverse student heights and sizes.

“We’re trying to raise money for choir gowns, but also for all our fine art programs at the New Ulm High School,” said organizer Laura Schotzko. 

Thanks to four successfully written grants, including support from the Optimist Club and the New Ulm Area Foundation, the boosters have already raised $6,000 toward the goal.

Everett Brown singing "Out There" accompanied by Ryan Johnson  (Photo by Jodi Johnson)

While the choir robes represent the largest active project, the Fine Arts Boosters emphasize their mission spans all fine arts disciplines. 

To give donors a clear picture of how contributions are used, Beran highlighted the event’s “Wishes Tree.” 

This interactive display allows community members to sponsor specific, tangible items needed by various school programs. 

Wishes on the tree range from smaller classroom essentials to specialized equipment, including ukulele tuners for middle school music classes, concert tom-toms, “Boomwhackers” used to teach rhythm and melody, score-keeping pocket boxes and pressure-sensitive buzzer strips for Knowledge Bowl, and basic supplies such as pencils and paint for visual arts classes.

The showcase featured a diverse lineup of student musicians who volunteered their time to perform and support their programs. 

College senior Mitchell Schotzko performs a saxophone duet with rising eighth-grader College senior Mitchell Schotzko performs a saxophone duet with rising eighth-grader Niels Ruiz-Ramirez during the Summer Showcase as Ryan Johnson plays the keyboard. (Photo by Jodi Johnson)

Among the highlights was an instrumental performance by Carmen Schotzko, an upcoming eleventh grader who played trumpet and sang. Carmen challenged herself during the jazz standard “So What” by Miles Davis, delivering her first-ever improvised solo in front of a live audience. 

“It’s usually great, but this time the part where I played the most, I was making that up on the spot,” she said.

The evening also featured a saxophone duet pairing college senior Mitchell Schotzko with rising eighth-grader Niels Ruiz-Ramirez. 

Mitchell, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Minnesota Duluth and member of the Ulmer Quartet, praised his younger counterpart’s remarkable ear and technical skill. 

“Blending two saxophones like that is not easy at all,” Mitchell said. 

Niels, who has been playing for four years, revealed that he picked up the saxophone after his older brother Luis decided to quit. 

Under the instruction of middle school teacher Jodi Johnson, the Band and Music Enrichment teacher at New Ulm Middle School, Niels has developed a deep appreciation for ensemble playing, and said that performing with others is far more engaging than practicing alone. 

“I think playing with multiple people just makes it even better,” Niels said.

Recent graduate Lexie Goff also took the stage, utilizing the showcase to display her promotional flyer. 

“I am just singing tonight trying to grow my name a little bit,” Goff said. “I’m looking for gigs around town and all that kind of stuff. I just love music and I want to share it with people.”

The fundraiser took place against a backdrop of recent school district budget cuts that have directly impacted the fine arts curriculum. 

The full-time high school band instructor position held by Philip Claussen was cut at the end of the previous school year, forcing him to seek employment elsewhere.

Community members and school staff at the event expressed frustration that fine arts programs have faced substantial personnel reductions while athletic programs experienced comparatively minor adjustments.

“These curricular reductions mean fewer individual lessons and resources will be directly available to students through the school’s standard operating budget,” said Schotzko.

In response, the grassroots efforts of the Fine Arts Boosters have become increasingly vital. 

By raising independent funds, in addition to state funding, the boosters aim to ensure that New Ulm students continue to have access to high-quality instruments, proper performance attire and the specialized equipment necessary to maintain a thriving arts culture.

“Some of those things, yes, boosting is the point,” Beran said. 

“Tonight’s been a lot of fun,” Mitchell Schotzko said. “To do all of that for a good cause is just the cherry on top.”

For those interested in supporting these efforts, more information is available at http://www.nufineartsboosters.org.