Submitted Photo Members of the Bottineau Concert Choir sing and dance to the music of the 1950s at the school’s fall concert in November.

BOTTINEAU – When the Bottineau High School Braves made their first appearance at the Dakota Bowl back in November, the Bottineau choir had to wait its turn. The choir’s fall concert was rescheduled to accommodate the team’s appearance in the championship.

“We have 18 football players who also made it to state football, who also sing in choir. This is an annual show we do every year. This is the fourteenth year that I’ve done it in Bottineau,” BHS choir teacher Jaque Marum said. “This year it was called ‘Legends are Made.’ All the music was done from legendary musicians, which has expanded over the generations. That way the grandparents know, the parents know it. The kids know it.”

Marum said 215 students from grades 5-12 were involved in the concert, performing hits from Dolly Parton to Taylor Swift. About 65 junior high and 70 high school students participated in addition to fifth and sixth graders.

“The program just keeps building. The kids love the show and it’s become a part of the culture in our school, where it’s ‘cool’ to be in choir,” Marum said. “It’s a lot of work and it’s a lot of fun.”

Pat Artz, the president of the Bottineau Music Boosters, made an appeal at one of the performances, encouraging the community members present to support the music programs at BPS. Artz said the 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed last fall to supplement and support the Bottineau band and choir, with funding for special purchases or event fees.

“It’s kind of new, but it’s a really good thing. There’s been lots of generous people in our community,” Artz said. “I got up on stage at intermission to talk about the Bottineau Music Boosters, and it generated a lot of interest and donations. Teachers give us their input and help them do what they do.”

Artz said the boosters’ goal initially was to raise $10,000, with all funds to be used at the discretion of the band and choir instructors Amber Thorenson and Marum.

“My personal goal is to see a pep band at games. We’d love to see more kids involved in the band, and for the pep band to have more of a presence at basketball and hockey games,” Artz said. “We just want to enhance what’s going on in any way we can. I’m passionate. I’m more of an athletic type person, but I have two girls both in band and choir, and I want to do my part while they’re still in school, and pass the torch when they are done.”

Marum, who has a show choir background, felt her fall concert provided her students with the training and opportunity to prepare for later careers in musical education or in performing professionally.

“Some of these kids could be professional performers, but you’ve got to learn to be a performer. If you’re going to get paid, you’re going to work at Disney or on a cruise ship,” Marum said. “This is what you could do, and I’m giving you the opportunity to experience some of what could be out there for you. Music is a lifelong thing for me, and we all can have it in our lives for enjoyment, but if you really wanted to do something with it? What are you going to do?”