Fine Arts, News

Band Impresses Classmates

No Comments 30 January 2012

By Joe Schartz and Alex Qualm

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo by Dustin Ortman

On Monday, January 30, the band wowed a captivated audience in the auditorium with a concert that displayed the versatile talent of the young musicians. The free show brought in friends and family from the community who thoroughly enjoyed the show, especially a piece called “The Great Locomotive Chase.”

“The one that sounded like a train was the best–it really made me see a train,” said senior fan Dusty Kleba. Sophomore Libby Goertel also gave the performance praise, saying, “It made me happy to see my boyfriend playing the guitar. He’s really good at it.” Kleba agreed with her wholeheartedly.

Director Danny Eye was pleased with his students and says he’s keeping his eyes on the future. “Wow, the mic system was really ghetto. I thought it was a really great concert with a lot of different styles of music, and now we’re looking forward to starting new music for contest and spring concert.”

The Augie Jazz Festival will be held March 6, and All-State Band members will gather in Brookings on March 23 and 24.

Fine Arts

West Central One Act Heads to Brandon

No Comments 30 January 2012

Anthony Even and Dustin Ortman

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo Courtesy of West Central One Act

West Central’s One Act play this year is a short 40-minute skit over September 11 and the things that happened on that fateful day. Cast members include: seniors Alex Qualm, Dusty Kleba, Adam Hentges, Joe Schartz, Brianna Titus, Emily Miles, Brittany Ensz and Mallorie Minor; juniors Courtney Anderson, Donovan Minor, Nick Shumaker, Andrew Kapperman and Dakotah Steineke; sophomores Garrett Miles and Skylar Ross; and freshman Syreeta Warrington. Continue Reading

Fine Arts

A fine arts family

No Comments 11 January 2012

By Taylor Bergeson

Trojan Tribune Staff

West Central has a variety of fine arts programs, for example Concert Band, Marching Band, Vocal Choir, Drama (both musical and plays) and lastly one-act plays. Mallorie and Donovan Minor are daughter and son of Marlena Renken, who directs all the plays. Both Donovan and Mallorie said there were positives and negatives to having their mom be the director.  Continue Reading

Fine Arts

West Central gets All Shook Up

No Comments 15 December 2011

By Donovan Minor

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo Courtesy of Broadway World

With winter coming around and new sports starting, the West Central drama department is also beginning a new production. This year’s musical is titled All Shook Up. The play is a jukebox musical based on the William Shakespeare play Twelfth Night and features the music of Elvis Presley. The story focuses on Chad, a motorcycle-riding, hip swiveling“Roustabout” that comes to a dreary town in the Midwest where there is no dancing, kissing or public displays of affection allowed.SHOOK UP Logo


Chad brings his spunk and charisma to the town, while at the same time being chased by Natalie, a mechanic who never realized what she wanted to do with her life until she met Chad. There is one problem: Chad is ignorant of the fact that Natalie is in love with him, so Natalie disguises herself as “Ed” to try to find out what will attract Chad. This, and many other conflicts, causes several love triangles throughout the course of the play.


Auditions were held December 12 and 13, and the cast list was put up on the 14th. Over 30 West Central students auditioned, and everyone received a part. There are 10 principle parts. The play will take place the first weekend in March.

Chad- A dancing, motorcycling “roustabout”, very much like Elvis- Joe Schartz

Natalie- A mechanic who disguises herself as Ed to get to Chad- Liz Renner

Dennis- Natalie’s best friend, who is in love with her- Nick Shumaker

Sylvia- A poor owner of the Honky-Tonk bar in town- Mallorie Minor

Lorraine- Sylvia’s daughter, who wants to have fun- Brianna Titus

Mayor Matilda- The town’s mayor who is bent on enforcing the laws of no dancing or public displays of affection- Maria Wegleitner

Sheriff Earl- Matilda’s silent partner who helps her enforce the law- Donovan Minor

Dean- Matilda’s son who goes to a military school and falls in love with Lorraine- Alex Qualm

Jim- Natalie’s father, who has been down ever since his wife died- Dusty Kleba

Sandra- The museum owner who is disappointed by the lack of culture- Breanna Grey


Fine Arts

Madrigal is a Classic and a Hit

No Comments 12 December 2011

By Madison Monahan

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo by Madison Monahan

The long-awaited Madrigal dinner finally arrived on December 2-3 at Central Valley Community Church. It was a Renaissance themed dinner, with the concert choir and mixed choir singing throughout the whole meal. The dinner counted as the choir member’s fall concert, with the nights starting at 7 on Friday and Saturday and lasting about an hour and a half. Continue Reading

Fine Arts

The Best Rise Above The Rest

No Comments 29 November 2011

By Sydney Rechtenbaugh

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo courtesy of Alex Qualm

High school students are involved in numerous activities ranging from athletics to fine arts. There are quite a few who excel. Senior Alex Qualm is one of these extraordinary students. Qualm is involved in Improv, TATU, Oral Interp, the fall play and spring musical, concert choir, band, jazz band, men’s choir, student council, baseball and track. In addition to that, he also made it to All-State Choir and is in the National Honor Society.


Alexander Scott Qualm was born April 17, 1994, to parents Chris and Cathy Qualm. He has one sister, Samantha, who is two years older. When Qualm was asked what his favorite activity is, he replied, “Either the fall play or oral interp, because I really like to be in front of people acting. I think plays are fun because it’s challenging making yourself become a specific character, and not only that, but it’s fun being a character that someone in the audience can relate to… and seeing how your acting can affect someone’s life.”


Even though it may be hard to believe, he still has free time outside of school activities. In this time, he enjoys playing his five guitars. Qualm also enjoys spending time with his three dogs, cat and brown bear, Bear. He likes spending time with his pre-calculus buddies, Darren Kueter and Dylan Brynjulson. Qualm jokes that Isaac McMahon is his hero, and they will be getting married soon.

© 2012 Trojan Tribune. Powered by Wordpress.