![Bass Clef Choir members Zion Ondoma, Henry Hansen, and Zerik Nicholson harmonize vocals while singing "Prayer of the Children". “[It’s] a piece dealing with the Bosnian conflicts of the ‘90s,” said Associate Director of Choral Activities Matthew Jensen, “but is applicable to what's happening today all over the world.” The students will perform the song during Large Group Contests in Cedar Falls in May.](https://riverhawkpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260414_111618-1200x554.jpg)
On Saturday, Jan. 17, the Mason City High School Music Department came together for a noble cause: the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Riverhawk Rock, and the MCHS Orchestra played to raise funds for the annual Mohawk Harvest.
”We set a new record this year with 8140 items collected, which was over 2000 items more than the previous record of 5791,” said band director Russ Kramer. “The students’ service to the community is outstanding!”
In the 12 years that the Instrumental Music students have collected food and money for the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, students have collected over 53,000 items. According to Kramer that’s equivalent to roughly 25-thousand dollars.
This may have been Mr. Kramer’s last showcase concert, as this is his last year. The Tritones, a jazz group that also includes Mr. Walker, and Mr. Anderson, may have had their last performance due to Kramer’s upcoming retirement.
