Embedded Files
OHS Welcomes 26-27 Guard Team
By Andi Pfestch
The Odessa High School’s color guard starts a new season off with auditions.
On April 21 and 23, OHS color guard held their ‘26-’27 fall season auditions where 13 students showed up on the first night, which was instructional night, and 14 on the second night, which was the actual audition.
Returners include juniors Abigail Strong, Bella Newman, Kennedy Elliot, Sabrina Hicks; sophomores Andrea Pfetsch, Evalynn Miles, Gracie Brown; freshmen Peyton Hager, and Carly Long. They were joined by several 8th graders hoping to make the team for their freshman year: Izzy Joy, James Good, Jessica Frick, Katy Hokanson, and Madison Brenon.
Many of these kids were told by friends about color guard, Strong and Newman being two of those.
Strong has been in color guard since middle school. She was dragged to auditions by one of her old friends and has stayed since.
“It's always been like another family,” Strong said.
All of the kids who auditioned got accepted to be apart of the 26-27 Color guard team. Captains for this year are Strong and Miles.
Paige Bockes, head coach, and Kandis Lancaster, assistant coach, have high hopes for this year's team.
“I expect to see hard work and the students having fun,” Lancaster said.
At the band’s Spring concert on April 30, the marching show was revealed to be a spy-themed show titled Classified.
Singing For Service
By Sadie Booth and Jackie Hicklin
Odessa High School Choir students serve the Odessa community through holiday performances.
Chamber Choir volunteered to perform the National Anthem at the OHS Veterans Assembly on November 11th.
The choir had sung this arrangement of the National Anthem only once before at the Kansas CIty Maverick’s game last school year. However, in the midst of concert and holiday preparations, the students found it a priority to brush up on their parts to honor their veterans by singing.
”We had to practice a lot so it would be perfect for them.” Avery Pastore, freshman, said
Coral Mills, senior, felt it was important to put in the work to polish the National Anthem and perform for local veterans.
“A lot of the veterans were either praised or ridiculed depending on when they served. So with Veterans Day, it shows that we do show appreciation for them and we care for them,” said Mills.
Aaron Larson, choir director, also thought of the assembly as an opportunity for students to get more practice singing in front of crowds.
It’s easy to see how the choirs use their performances to show thanks and share with the community. Another form of holiday service given by the choir students was singing at the annual Christmas lighting in downtown Odessa.
This year, the choirs sang God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Carol Of The Bells, two classic Christmas carols that show the importance of tradition and holiday spirit all in one. The choir performed these acapella, which exemplifies their adaptive skills and the teamwork they use to produce a classic holiday performance.
In the spirit of the holidays, giving, and thanks, the students were asked, “If you could donate something to the choir, what would it be?” Responses ranged from paper and pencils to a copying machine and a smartboard.
“A smartboard would be useful to Mr.Larson for when we are doing solfege together, it would make it easier,” Mills said.
OHS choir students will be working on their audition material for the MRVC choir next. Auditions and performance are February 4th.
Growing Change in OHS Choirs
Growing Change in OHS Choirs
By: Sadie Booth
Publish Date: 11
Aaron Larson is in his second year of teaching choir at OHS and has been making a lot of changes to the program.
Larson has been teaching music for four years now. His time here has already shown more change to the program than past directors, and he is the first one to stay for a second year since former choir director Harry Hamblin left. He is most excited to push his students with new music.
“I really just enjoy pushing my choirs because I know they can be fantastic and make beautiful music,” Larson said.
Larson studied at the University of Central Missouri, as well as Texas Tech University. Although he has a deep love for music, he only started doing choir in high school; on top of that, he also played in his school's marching band.
Before working at Odessa High School, he taught different subjects in both elementary and middle schools.
Larson is the fourth choir director at OHS since the class of 2026 came to the high school. In past years, the choirs had a limited number of performances, including the Odessa Christmas lighting ceremony, their winter concert, large ensemble contest, and their spring concert.
Expanding the choir's performance opportunities, “allows us as a choral program to gain experiences” and “allows us to hear music being made outside of Odessa, Missouri,” said Larson.
Students are excited, as this is the first time in over six years that the Choir department will be taking an overnight trip for performance! There had been plans in the past to take larger, out of state trips, but Larson believes that starting with a lower budget trip would be best for students involved in multiple activities, seeing as costs can pile up.
The trip this year will consist of both chamber and concert choir students here at OHS. The Choirs will be visiting Branson for a total of three days and two nights. On this trip, they will get to spend a day at Silver Dollar City after performing in the park's Music Festival. The choir will also have time to explore different areas of the city, including the Branson Landing.
Addison Shank, junior, expresses her excitement for the new opportunities Larson has opened up for the choirs.
“I am most excited for our fall concert, he (Larson) has opened us up to the opportunity to sing with UCM and create music with people who love music as much as us,” Shank said.
The UCM Choirs have invited Odessa High School’s chamber and concert choir to perform with them at their fall performance. There will be over 150 singers combined, and Odessa even gets to perform a song on their own, ‘When The Earth Stands Still” by Don Macdonald.
Larson has a very interactive way of teaching this music to his students. Cheyanne Strader, senior, describes a unique exercise they did while practicing.
“We all went in a random spot in the room, closed our eyes, and thought of a moment when the earth stood still.” Strader says that exercises like this, “helps the choir connect as one.”
Strader mentions that to get the students to understand what the song means, he’ll first give an example of his own moment.
Another new way of engaging students Larson has created is the highly popular “Theory Thursday" and “Fat Beat Friday”. Larson says he wants to end the stigma of Missouri choir students not being able to read music.
Zoe Bullock, junior, says that one of the things she appreciates about Larson is, “him trying to make choir a fun thing to be in with games and "fat beat Fridays.”
A popular one of his games by the students is something they’ve named “Trash-ket Ball”. In this game, students separate into teams and play rounds of flash cards. The student who is the first to shout out the answer to the card gets a chance to shoot the ball into a trashcan and win points for their team.
Fat Beat Friday is another creative tradition started by Larson. The process starts with a line of beats written onto the whiteboard. The students will clap their way through the line a few times before the beat is paired to a random song. Natalie Doney, junior, says her favorite song they’ve done for Fat Beat Friday is Diamonds by Rihanna.
These forms of teaching seem to be helping students like Journey Platt, senior, who says, “Mr. Larson has taught me more about music than any other choir teacher I've had.”
Many of his students have expressed their thoughts on Larson in a positive way.
“Mr. Larson has brought back my love for music; he made music more about passion and less about being perfect. He sees potential and he helps his students reach their fullest potential. He has truly changed The OHS Choir Department,” says Shank.
Lynkyn McElmurry, senior, says Larson is the reason they are still in choir today. “Whenever I walk into the room, I can immediately feel comfortable knowing I can talk freely and be honest on how I am feeling to him.”
As many of his students have shared their adoration for him and his teaching, Larson shares an equal amount for them. When asked for one thing he could say to his students, his response is this: “I love each and every one of you. You are greater than you think and I am just waiting for you to figure that out!”
Larson's plans for OHS choirs do not end after just this year. He plans to continue pushing his students to become better year after year.
“I want to get them out of Missouri and I also want to get them exposed to choral music at higher levels to see what they can accomplish and for them to realize that I ‘am’ as crazy as they think! (but for good reason, which is good music making),” Larson says.
Overall, Larson has improved not only the learning of the students, but the morale and connection of the choirs as a whole.
Drawing Outside the Lines
By Jackie Hicklin
Picture by Hannah Hill
Odessa High School Art Club is a place for students who are big on art.
Art club meets in the art room after school on Tuesdays running from 3 to 4. Students can make whatever art project that they want using mediums that range from oil pastels to water colors.
Abigail Porter, sophomore, said getting to talk with other people was her favorite part of art club.
Along with other students that said they really liked how calm it can be for working on projects and can socialize at the same time.
Art Club is different from art class in the sense that students get to have complete free will over everything and anything to create their projects. Also members can work on their projects for however long they want, but typically members make one project per session.This is different from Art class that has been given assignments to make and has a deadline to complete the project with limited materials.
Those who have any thoughts about joining or getting involved with Art club, talk to Hannah Hill, OHS art teacher, or just show up in the art room after school on Tuesdays.
The most common way that Art Club recruits new members is by spreading the word.
Maylee McMahon, freshman,said that she wasn’t in Art club but her friend asked her to come to work on a project with that friend.
Typically when members get done with their projects, they like to hang it on the kitchen fridge or their bedroom wall. Students usually like making two dimensional drawing and painting such as landscape, mountains, and marine life. Drawing inspiration frequently comes from Google or Pinterest.
Where members want to improve by the end of the school year is on painting and realistic drawing skills. You can learn creative decision-making, accepting feedback, and making smart decisions by joining art club.
Later on when Art club gets more than 6 to 9 consistent members, Hill plans to get more involved with the school and community so she can do bigger projects with the club.
Members would describe Art Club as fun, relaxing, creative, sociable, and changing.
At the end of the school year students can enter into the Missouri art show. Students' art pieces are entered to be displayed in a room for people to view, and when the art pieces get placed on April 3rd but then come back within the following week, the people who entered get a ribbon.
“The purpose is having the art show is to display the art and not quote on quote placing well or good art”, Hill said.
Odessa High School Marching Band Starts Fall Season Strong
Odessa High School Marching Band Starts Fall Season Strong
By Andrea Pfetsch, Makayla Cole
(Both are current members of the color guard and band.)
Photo Credit: Belinda Johnson
Odessa’s Band of Distinction brings the sound to the high school this 2025-2026 school year.
Our OHS band has been working since June to perform the best music at football games and competitions.
Band directors are Travis Wittman, who has taught in Odessa for five years, and Johnny Rotolo, who has taught for two years here. The color guard director is Paige Bockes, teaching for three years. Their drumline technicians are Rachel Mrosko, Matthew Gannon, and Tony Lewis.
Directors and staff have high expectations for our band this year, thinking that they will improve from their scores from last year if they allow themselves to be challenged.
“My expectations this year is to challenge ourselves with harder drill and really iron out a lot of our technique fundamentals. I think that our scores should be higher than last year overall and continue to trend upwards based on the hard work we've already seen!” says Wittman.
Members say the band is a great environment for people to join and blossom in, welcoming and supporting people with open arms.
“I would describe the band as like a second family, it's a place where you can create everlasting friendships and meet the most amazing people with the same interests as you,” says Lynkyn McElmurry, senior drum major.
Beyond the friendship and family-like atmosphere described by McElmury, Rotolo notes that the band also prides itself on supporting students with several passions.
“It's a fun time filled with passionate students! I would also like to tout that the band is very good at working with students who balance multiple sports, activities, etc,” says Rotolo.
Talking about a second family, the Odessa BOD is oriented on being student-led, students leading the eight different sections within the band and color guard, three drum majors leading right next to the directors, and three band managers who help the band keep organized.
Every leader comes from a certain place for a certain reason. The band promotes this, allowing people like Jaida Starchman, senior mids section leader, to lead with passion.
“I only had one out of two section leaders that I looked up to and saw as an actual leader, and I wanted the incoming freshman to have a leader that would teach them the correct things and be someone that they could have as a "role model" but also a friend,” says Starchman.
All returner members have overall positive memories with the band, but they also say the friendships you make are important as well.
“I recommend joining because not only do you make very funny and almost unbelievable memories, but you make connections,” says Cheyenne Strader, senior color guard section leader.
A majority of the members have experience with the band, and they all know the best and worst. Most of those worsts are overlapped by the bests due to all the fun memories, like trips!
“My favorite time was going to Disney World. Just because I play an instrument, I have to go to a place a lot of people wish they were at, so trust me you gotta join. I had a really good time with the band, and I don't think I'll ever forget it,” says Denton Geier, senior clarinet section leader.
While there are many funny trips you can go on – like competitions or out-of-state trips – some of the band kids enjoy the smaller things.
“Awards, always awards,” said Rylee Hollingsworth, color guard senior. “After watching bigger bands and being amazed, when the time finally comes for our score to be announced, everyone gets together, and we all hope for the best, even if we are last.”
Speaking of awards, BOD's hard work goes towards all of their performances where they earn said awards.
Their show this year is named The Final Voyage, a pirate adventure, and they’ve recently performed at every home football game so far; the Blue Springs South Competition, placed 2nd in their class and 16th in open class; and the Smith-Cotton Invitational, where they placed 4th of 6 in their class.
Some of the band's important upcoming dates are our Odessa Marching Invitational, which goes on here at the high school and middle school on October 11; our 8th-grade night home football game on October 17; their last competition at the Royal Regiment Invitational on October 18 at Harrisonville High School; the senior night home game on October 24.
OHS Drama Club Gets Ready for Spring Play
By Andi Pfestch
Odessa High School Theatre Department is taking this month to prepare for its spring play Steel Magnolias which will run in April on the 9, 10, and 11 in the auditorium.
BEFORE CASTING:
On January 15 and 16, the OHS Theatre Department held its auditions for Steel Magnolias. The show is a story about the lives of six southern women and is set in a hair salon.
“We watch as our characters grow and change throughout life's most joyful and most challenging moments, shaping them into the strong and beautiful women that we see in the end,” Emily Turner, director of the OHS drama club, said.
There were many girls who auditioned for a role in the play, including Avery Pastore, freshman, Sadie Booth, senior, and Sarah Booth, sophomore.
Cast members said that this is a great selection of a show because it’s a great mixture of humor and depth, perfect for the Drama club. Turner agrees and thinks the love for the movie will benefit students and entertain community members.
"I think that this piece will be both challenging and very rewarding for the group of students that get to be involved in it. It will be a piece that I hope will be very impactful,” said Turner.
AFTER CASTING:
After their Auditions, cast members received their roles around 7 pm, January 16. The main cast consists of Jenna Ponak, senior, as Truvy Jones; Journey Platt, senior, as Annelle Duput-Desoto; Sadie Booth as Clairee Belcher; Ginevra Valentino, junior, as Shelby Eatonton; Rylee Hicklin, senior, as M’Lynn Eatonton; and Addison Shank, junior, as Uiser Boudreaux.
There are understudies, a group of people who learn the part of another cast member. For this show understudies learned two of characters. These members are Lynkyn McElmurry-George, senior, studying as Truvy and M’Lynn; Sarah Booth studying as Clairee and Ouiser; and Pastore as Annelle and Shelby.
“I have to memorize both of their lines and movements. And, during the Saturday afternoon show in April, all of the understudies will pick which role they feel most comfortable with, and then they'll perform that role,” said Pastore.
OHS Theatre Thankful for Performances
Story by Andrea Pfetsch
Photo taken by Andy Schram
On November 13, 14, and 15, the OHS Theatre Department presented their 2025-2026 musical Once Upon a Mattress. The club is very thankful for the smooth sailing of the three performances and looking forward to their spring production.
After practicing since October, the OHS Theatre Department was thankful for a successful show and more.
“I think the musical went very well! Everyone involved seemed to be having fun, and that is all that we can ask for when we are doing something as scary as performing in front of a crowd!” Emily Turner, theatre club director, said.
The students in the club say that they thought the show went great this year. Sarah Booth, sophomore, actor of Queen Aggravain, said she thought it was more put together and organized, with minimal road bumps.
“I think the fall musical this year was casted very well, and the costumes, set, and props fit the show very well. The cast, crew, and our director, Mrs. Turner, put so much hard work into putting this fantastic show together!” Sar. Booth said.
Sar. Booth was one of the many sibling duos who performed this year. This is the final musical she will get to put on with her older sister, Sadie Booth, senior actor of Princess Winnefred.
“I knew this would be the last Musical I would get to do with my sister, but it didn't feel real until closing night. The whole day I was really emotional because I've never done a show without my sister, and I knew that this was going to be the last musical I would get to do with her,” Sar. Booth said.
Sad. Booth says her senior year is very surreal and that she will miss performing with the Odessa Theatre. She’s thankful for her sister, who she has performed with most of her life.
“I would like to thank my sister, Sarah Booth, she is always putting up with all of my moods and all the times I choose to annoy her,” Sad. Booth said.
While the sisters are thankful for each other, Norah Eaton, sophomore sound technician, said she was thankful for the environment and people within the club. This has driven her to want to continue giving that same feeling to future members.
“During my time in drama club, I'm going to do my best to give back every single ounce of passion that I have in hopes of inspiring more people to join and experience the amazing people and opportunities drama club offers,” Eaton said.
Booth sisters; Jacob and Lucas Tate, seniors; Rollie Platt, sophomore, and Journey Platt, senior; Andy Schram, sophomore, and Alexa Schram, freshman and the rest of the cast and crew will be gearing up for their final show together this spring.
OHS Theatre Department will start auditions for Steel Magnolias January 15-16. Steel Magnolias is set to debut April 9, 10, 11.
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