New Ulm High School is excited about the new choir teacher, Ms. Schmitz, who has been in Mr. Olson’s position for the past month.

She has taught elementary students at Jefferson and High School students at West Lutheran High School in Plymouth.

Although she is originally from Wisconsin, she graduated from MLC in New Ulm.

Mrs. Schmitz was pleasantly surprised at how well the choirs are performing. She gives credits to the students in those choirs.

“A lot of the seniors, especially, have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and made themselves leaders,” Schmitz said. “And even in Men of Note and Bel Canto, where there aren’t seniors, we still have student leaders who have stepped up and wanted to get work done.”

Freshman Maddie Hoffann said, “Mrs Schimitz has been a great addition and very energetic and nice about things, even when correcting.”

Maddie also said that the choir has been going well. She isn’t a fan of the work, but doesn’t mind it.

Mrs Schmitz has always loved all parts of music, even in writing original pieces.

“I dabble in composing, whether that be choral or solo music; I have a good time with that,” she said.  “I’ve been in musicals since I’ve been old enough to, which would be like kindergarten.”

She also reports she was in middle school, high school, and even college musicals. Ultimately, she says she would like to get involved in helping with the musicals at New Ulm High School.

Mrs. Schmitz has not always been interested only in music. In high school and college, she worked as a certified nurse’s aide in a nursing home. She even used her musical background to reach some of her clients who had dementia. Sometimes she would play hymns and other music for them to sing along.

Mrs Schimitz is happy to get into it and even more excited to be in the School musicals or just have a part in it.