rotary club of new berlin, new berlin rotary, kids from wisconsin
KIDS From Wisconsin to rock the state during summer
 
Our club got a taste of some fine Wisconsin musical talent during our meeting on April 9. Tina Weiss, executive director, and Mark Juds (red sweater vest) stopped by to introduce us to KIDS From Wisconsin, a musical troupe comprised of high school kids from around the state.
 
Starting its 46th season, KIDS From Wisconsin is gearing up for a full schedule of concerts around Wisconsin this summer. This year's theme is "Can't Hold Us." Weiss played snippets from previous concerts. The very talented young people sing and play instruments during the shows, Weiss said. Music genres include jazz and swing, current hits, and show tunes, among others.
 
This year's troupe is comprised of 33 kids from all over Wisconsin, including Isaac Surprenant, a senior at New Berlin Eisenhower High School. KIDS alumni have gone onto prominence in many areas of entertainment, Weiss said. A 2012 alumnus was a finalist on "American Idol"; another alumnus works on Broadway.
 
KIDS From Wisconsin performs everyday of State Fair, in addition to their regular schedule of more than two dozen shows during the summer. Annual auditions, held in Madison, Eau Claire and Stevens Point, are "very rigorous," Weiss said. "[The performer] has to be the epitome of a KID From Wisconsin."
 
The Rotary Club of New Berlin is proud to host a KIDS From Wisconsin concert this summer. The show will take place at New Berlin West High School's auditorium on Aug. 22. Watch for more details in our calendar.
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Also during this meeting we were able to meet three of the four student-candidates to this year's World Affairs Seminar. All are looking forward to the program. When asked why they applied for the WAS program, they responded:

- Connect with people all over the world
- Help others in their communities
- Help people in other parts of the world
 
The Rotary Club of New Berlin is a proud sponsor of two WAS students. New Berlin School District is sponsoring the other two. Superintendent Joe Garza enthusiastically supports World Affairs Seminar. "What they experience will be central in their preparation beyond 12th grade," he said during the meeting.
 
These students will be invited back to a Rotary Club meeting in late summer to share their experiences at the World Affairs Seminar. You can learn more about World Affairs Seminar here.
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