Quality of Wiens’ voice generates a chorus of praise

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA MARTENS
He sings with the strongest tenor voice in the Goessel High School choir program, but he quietly talks about group contribution as well as personal achievement.

“I like being part of something amazing, like when the choir sings,” GHS senior John Wiens said.

“I also like the solo competition of individual work. I like to see what I can do, and I like to improve, challenge myself, try new things and try harder literature.”

Wiens has sung tenor since he was a second-grade student under the direction of vocal instructor Greg Bontrager. With encouragement from Bontrager, Wiens continued singing tenor but switched from first to second as his voice changed and it became more difficult to hit the higher notes.

“Then, Mr. Bontrager taught me how to sing in head voice-a way to sing very strongly in high ranges,” Wiens said. “After I learned to do that, I was able to sing first tenor and now I can sing either.”

About once a week, Wiens takes private lessons from Bontrager. These sessions last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour.

“John has developed into an excellent tenor-making the state Kansas Music Educators Association choir for the past two year,” Bontrager said. “This is accomplished only by the top high school musicians in the state.”

During his junior year, Wiens sang second tenor in state choir and this year, he sang first tenor.

“It was good,” he said about the experience of singing with 200 outstanding vocal students. “It’s always inspiring, and you always come back energized.”

A member of the GHS Choir, Wiens also lends his vocal talents to the Elbiata Singers select ensemble and Men’s Glee.

About 80 percent of the student population chooses to participate in the choir program at GHS.

“It’s tradition,” Wiens said. “You come in here and you realize what you can be a part of. Mr. Bontrager and (band director) Mr. (Bud) Meisel are both really great teachers. We’re very lucky, we really are.”

Whether competing in groups or as a soloist, Wiens remembers always receiving ‘I’s at regional and state competitions.

Other school activities include a percussionist in band, Scholar’s Bowl and forensics, and he maintains about a 3.5 grade-point-average.

He also helps Bontrager direct and lead choir members during practices.

“Since we only have one director, instead of having one group sit around and wait while he works with the other group, I’ll take the section he’s not working with and direct them for part of the period,” Wiens said.

Bontrager said Wiens has stepped up as “an incredible leader for our music department-he even directed the pep band at a basketball game this season.”

College is on the horizon, and one possible choice is Bethel College in North Newton. He’s been offered a science scholarship and is auditioning for a vocal scholarship, too.

A professional career is still in the planning stages.

“I’ve taken advanced college writing, so I might do something with writing,” Wiens said. “But science is where I’m at right now, so I’m trying to decide between writing and science.”

As an important contributor to the sound of the vocal program at GHS, Wiens said he has also received life lessons in return. He’s learned the value of being a part of a group.

“You sing two different ways-solo or with a group,” Wiens said.

“If you sing too loudly or too dominantly in a choir, it’s going to stick out, and the choir isn’t going to blend. It’s learning to work with other people. It’s definitely made me a better person.”

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