Key Takeaways:
1. Art: The visual arts program blended entrepreneurship with community service through a new Product Design class, a collaborative art auction fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, and another excellent VB Juried Art Show.
2. Band: The marching band maintained its legacy of excellence by earning a Superior (I) rating at the OMEA State Contest for the eleventh consecutive year.
3. Choir: Despite severe weather canceling their district event, the choir program adapted to earn multiple Superior ratings at the state level alongside a highly successful competitive season for the show choir, The Association.
Fine arts classes have been a significant part of a Van Buren education for a long time, and the 2025-2026 school year saw our students and staff continue to excel in the visual and performing arts at the local, district, and state levels. Here is an overview of their accomplishments.
Art
The visual arts, led by Mr. Derek Frey, offered a variety of classes and opportunities to students this year. A new Product Design class gave students the opportunity to create and sell coasters, metal flowers, Christmas mugs, laser-engraved golf tee holders, and more throughout the year. In December, Art I-IV students took a trip to Habitat for Humanity in Findlay to tour the facility. During the tour, each student was able to pick a piece of artwork that had been donated to Habitat, and then students brought those pieces back to school, added their own creative vision to the piece to give it new life, and donated it back to be sold at Habitat’s art auction fundraiser.
Students also had the opportunity to share their artwork in shows. Kenna Thomas received honorable mention in the 2D category at the county-wide art show held at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. The Juried Art Show, a tradition for over 40 years, saw 15 students honored for their work, including Tenley Myers (Best of Show), Geneva Lewandowski (People’s Choice Award), Travis Carey (Rockstar Award), and Lillian Lewandowski (Rookie of the Year). Other students winning awards for their artwork were Paightyn Craft, Mario DeLisi, Serenity Ferguson, Amelia Fry, Lauren Hibbard, Ella Peterson, Matthew Puperi, Karson Rinker, Leah Sheeks, Owen Swaney, and Kenna Thomas.
This year also marked the 20th year Art IV students had the opportunity to paint a block in the art room, and Geneva Lewandowski added her legacy to the wall.
Band
Fall is always a busy time in the fine arts department, but it is especially busy for the marching band, under the direction of Mr. Mike Procyk. In addition to marching at all ten of the home and away football games, they also competed at four competitions to qualify and prepare for the state contest. On September 13, they earned third place in Class A at the Cavalcade of Sound Marching Band Competition at Cloverleaf High School, and they only improved from there. Two weeks later, their performance at the Midwest Ohio Marching Band Competition at Marion Local not only qualified them for the state contest, but they also earned best in Class A, best music overall, best auxiliary, and best percussion. After honing their show at the Copley Marching Band Competition and Maumee’s Music in Motion competition, the band performed in the OMEA State Contest at Piqua and earned a Superior (I) rating for the eleventh consecutive year. The show, titled Super, included songs from the Superman, Batman, The Avengers, and Iron Man movies and “Heroes” by David Bowie.
The marching band season did not end with the state contest, however. In addition to marching in the Bowling Green Holiday Parade, they also played at the Twinkle Nights drive-through holiday light show held at the Hancock County Fairgrounds while preparing for the holiday concert held in the auditorium on December 18.
The start of the concert season provided opportunities for students to earn individual honors for their musical excellence. Sophomores Rachel Betts, Preston Harnjo, and Gourav Rohidas were selected to participate in the 75th annual Hancock County Honors Band, which culminated in a concert at Riverdale High School on February 15. Betts, an avid participant in FFA, was also selected to participate in the FFA State Band at the Ohio FFA State Convention in May.
As the school year came to a close, the band performed its spring concert on May 19 and continued its tradition of playing at the Van Buren Memorial Day service.
Choir
This year was no less successful for our choir program, led by Ms. Christina Csernyik. Starting in September, when seniors Elyse Clark, Emily Clark, and Maddie Hudok sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the start of a BGSU soccer game, opportunities for choral excellence were plentiful. The fall choir concert on October 19, holiday concert on December 15, and district preview concert on March 3 were all part of preparations to compete in the OMEA district competition at Lima Shawnee on March 13, but hurricane-force gusts of 60-85 mph throughout the day led to the decision to not travel to the event. Because of the extenuating circumstances, the choirs were still allowed to compete at the OMEA state competition held at Van Buren on May 1-2. At state, the Tenor/Bass Choir, Treble Choir, and Varsity Chorale all earned Superior (I) ratings. Across the entire choir department, there were 26 seniors providing leadership for the underclassmen.
The excellence the choirs achieved also opened up additional opportunities for individual students. In November, Olivia Allshouse, Elyse Clark, Maddie Hardie, Brady Kline, Cara Nichols, Aria Tussing, and Cullen Tussing participated in the BGSU Falcon Choral Festival, which culminated in a concert held in BG’s Kobacker Hall. In January, Carter Jackson and Cullen Tussing performed for music educators from around the state as part of the All-State Choir at the OMEA Conference held in Columbus. In February, Elyse Clark, Emily Clark, Chance Frey, Maddie Hardie, Carter Jackson, Brady Kline, Isaiah Moyer, and Cara Nichols participated in the 75th annual Hancock County Honors Choir. Finally, in May, Brookanne Busch, Lorelai Holt, Jayson Leatherman, Tyler Price, Aubrey Scherf, Jada Sumney, Aria Tussing, and Caeden Tussing were selected to participate in the FFA State Choir, giving Van Buren the honor of having the most students (8) from one school participating in the choir.
Another significant milestone was the return of The Association, accompanied by The Essentials, as a competitive show choir, and they did not disappoint. In the first competition of the year after a preview at Findlay Fall Fest, they were named Class C champion, made it to finals, and finished fourth runner-up overall at the Ada Music Feast with Kate Schroeder being named Best Performer.
On January 12, the music department held the inaugural Knight Music Show Choir Invitational. Six schools participated in the event with an estimated audience of 500 people, and Brady Kline was named The Association’s Most Dynamic Performer.
The rest of the season consisted of performances at the North Royalton Showdown Show Choir Competition (Small Mixed Division second runner-up, fourth runner-up overall, Group Best Costumes award, Best Performer award to Tyler Price), Walsh Jesuit Great Lakes Invitational Show Choir Competition (Small Group first runner-up, third runner-up overall, Group Best Costumes award, Best Performer award to Brady Kline), Kenton Cup Show Choir Competition (Small Mixed Division Grand Champions, Most Dynamic Performer award to Chance Frey), and the Alliance Royal Aviation Show Choir Competition (Small Mixed Division first runner-up, third runner-up overall, Best Performer award to Carter Jackson). Cabaret, featuring The Association, The Essentials, and The VB Big Band, was held on April 25.
On top of all of that, Csernyik, along with assistant directors Allison Beaupry and Michaela Carter, directed this year’s production of The Little Mermaid. The musical, which achieved record ticket sales and was performed March 19-22, included 48 student performers in grades 5-12 and seven tech/crew members. The week before, cast members hosted a “Breakfast Under the Sea” event for children, which included a themed breakfast menu, an opportunity for attendees to meet the characters and get their autographs, and crafts.
At the spring concert for the band and choir on May 19, Brady Kline and Kate Schroder were each named recipients of the $500 Music Booster Scholarship. Cullen Tussing received the Debbie Priebe Award, given in honor of Priebe, who was a member of the Class of 1972 but passed away while in high school.
Our school district is blessed with dedicated fine arts teachers leading students who are committed to excellence in the visual and performing arts. We appreciate how positively they all represented our school this year!
Check out what else is happening at the Van Buren Local School District:
Collaborating for Impact: The Work Behind Our District Goals
Sweat, Smiles, and Service: Inside VB Service Day 2026
School District Passes State Audit