Home Grown Talent Tours the State

The Kids from Wisconsin, a touring musical group of youth selected from across the state, features three young men from Muskego.

The 'Kids' have a daunting schedule, long bus rides – and a professional resume. The season begins with a 14-day camp where they learn the show. Then they get on the bus and take off for towns all over the state. This year and in 2009, they also hopped over into Michigan.

Scott Hensiak is on his final 'Kids' tour. After three years, at the advanced age of 20, he will “age out” of the 43-year-old organization, which recruits excellent dancers, vocalists, and instrumental musicians from the age of 15. Scott plays tenor and alto sax with the group, and clarinet when he gets the chance. He’ll be a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, majoring in music education.

He had just arrived at on the tour bus for a picnic feast provided by parents and friends before the Saturday evening show at Muskego High School’s Performing Arts Center. The cast had performed in Fond du Lac the night before, and would leave for Oshkosh Sunday.

Earlier this summer they were featured at the Wisconsin State Fair. That was Hensiak's favorite gig, he said; they stayed in one place for the entire run of the Fair. Had they sampled any of the more exotic foods?

“No, just corn dogs and cream puffs,” said Hensiak.  

The concert repertoire includes all kinds of music: pop, Dixieland, jazz, punk, according to Hensiak.

“We do band tributes, too; the Beatles, Earth, Wind, and Fire,” he added.  In addition, every performer has a solo turn.

Tyler Graf is a sophomore at UW-Eau Claire, a vocal performance major. He plans to pursue a career in singing, including opera. He’s performed with the Dubuque Symphony and in two Stephen Sondheim shows at UW-Platteville. 

Tyler is into sports as well as music. He ran track and cross country, played soccer and other team sports. “At there’s good coordination between music and sports.” 

Jacob McCoy will begin his freshman year at Luther College in Decorah, IA, the day after the final 'Kids’ show, his father, Kevin McCoy said.

“He’ll meet his roommate about midnight," Kevin said. "They’ve been on the road June through August.” Jacob is a trumpeter with the show’s 13-piece band.

The tour, his second, has been “exciting and stressful, living on the bus,” Jake said.

However, cast members are from all over the state, and they’ve made good friends on those long rides. “I like the home stays, too; people take you into their own homes,” he added.

At MHS Jake played in the jazz band. Like the others, he had high praise for the school’s music and arts program.  

His dad said, “To have three students in the same troupe is a testament to the outstanding direction they received during their MHS years, particularly from Jamie Beckman and Matt Wanner.”

The Kids from Wisconsin will perform their grand finale at West Allis Central High at 3:00 on Sunday, August 28 - and then it’s back to the books.