Oregon High School Senior Profiles, Oregon, Wisconsin

Curiosity lead OHS senior Kaleb Karstetter to join choir his junior year of high school. “My good friend Gabe was in choir, and I was curious what it was all about,” explains Karstetter. “I didn’t know if I had the ability to sing so it was kind of an experimental thing. I found out I enjoyed it more than I thought I could.”

Karstetter was also curious about how to read music. He reports Ms. Jennifer Yancey, OHS choir teacher, through the technique of solfège, helped him understand the dynamics of music and singing scales. This resulted in Karstetter being able to read music and developing a better singing voice.

He also credits participation in choir with boosting his self-confidence. In the fifth grade Karstetter played the role of Beethoven in the musical production “Compose Yourself”. Though he had enjoyable memories of this experience and was being encouraged by friends, he admits to being too nervous to try out for a part in the OHS musical his junior year. After singing in choir for a year Karstetter auditioned for and landed a solo part as Johnny Casino in OHS’s 2008 production of "Grease". “Being in choir builds confidence. Ask anyone in choir, and they’ll tell you the same thing,” states Karstetter.

Performing on stage at his first concert is Karstetter’s most memorable choir experience. “Gong up on stage was exciting since I hadn’t done anything like that since fifth grade. It was like looking back in time and remembering things I use to do,” reminisces Karstetter.

Karstetter, son of Kevin and Billie Karstetter, has future plans that include attending a technical college and taking classes in art, music, cooking and philosophy.

Class of 2009
Kaleb Karstetter
Curiosity lead OHS senior Kaleb Karstetter to join choir his junior year of high school. “My good friend Gabe was in choir, and I was curious what it was all about,” explains Karstetter. “I didn’t know if I had the ability to sing so it was kind of an experimental thing. I found out I enjoyed it more than I thought I could.” Karstetter was also curious about how to read music. He reports Ms. Jennifer Yancey, OHS choir teacher, through the technique of solfège, helped him understand the dynamics of music and singing scales. This resulted in Karstetter being able to read music and developing a better singing voice. He also credits participation in choir with boosting his self-confidence. In the fifth grade Karstetter played the role of Beethoven in the musical production “Compose Yourself”. Though he had enjoyable memories of this experience and was being encouraged by friends, he admits to being too nervous to try out for a part in the OHS musical his junior year. After singing in choir for a year Karstetter auditioned for and landed a solo part as Johnny Casino in OHS’s 2008 production of "Grease". “Being in choir builds confidence. Ask anyone in choir, and they’ll tell you the same thing,” states Karstetter. Performing on stage at his first concert is Karstetter’s most memorable choir experience. “Gong up on stage was exciting since I hadn’t done anything like that since fifth grade. It was like looking back in time and remembering things I use to do,” reminisces Karstetter. Karstetter, son of Kevin and Billie Karstetter, has future plans that include attending a technical college and taking classes in art, music, cooking and philosophy.	Nina Axelsson Jake Behling Ariana Bonsett-Veal Nicole Cunningham Monica Dahl Toni Hale Molly Hayman Alli Holznecht Breanna Huston Kaleb Karstetter Tayler O'Donnell Jeff Oemichen Alyssa Ottum Cerina Partridge Zach Prior Rachel Smith Statia Swenson Brooke Vander Wegen

Submitted by Peggy Hayman Oregon Choral Boosters