Show choir is something that all Keokuk students can enjoy. Students can sing, dance, travel, be part of the stage crew or even be part of the band. Director Katie Sullivan is on her third year of teaching here at the high school. The show choirs are split into two groups Purple Harmony and Vibrations. They are currently learning the choreography that they will be doing for their season. Every Tuesday and Thursday both Purple Harmony and Vibrations have a night practice to help improve their skills for their performances They will begin performing in January along with traveling and competing and hosting their own competition. Many of the students really enjoy every minute they spend on show choir. In fact, some seniors say they never want to leave the stage. Some seniors even say that it is one of the saddest moments of their lives to know that their last competition is on the horizon. 

Opus is a musical festival for our freshmen here at Keokuk High School sponsored by Iowa Directors. Alyssa Campbell and Hank Sparrow, KHS freshmen, were recently selected for participation in the 32nd annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Over 2,600 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs, and the selections were made by means of recorded audition. The 2019 Opus Honor Choirs will perform at 4:00 p.m. November 21st in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium at the Iowa State Center in Ames. The Opus Honor Choir Festival is made possible by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc. Congratulations to Alyssa Campbell and Hank Sparrow on this amazing accomplishment!

 Allstate is a music festival that is sponsored by the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) that gives sophomores, juniors and seniors a chance to show their musical talents. Five students of Keokuk High School have attained the highest individual honor available to Iowa high school musicians by being selected to be members of the 2019 All-State Band and Chorus. Senior Gabriel Love and junior Carson Sargent were selected on trumpet for the Iowa All-State Band. Gabriel and Carson are students of Joel Knipe and Bob Soule. Senior Kendra Hunt (3 year All-Stater), junior Jordan Granera , and senior Thomas Barrett were selected for the Iowa All-State Chorus. Kendra, Jordan, and Thomas are students of Katie Sullivan. The 2019 Festival will celebrate the 73rd anniversary of this prestigious event. District Auditions for the 279-piece All-State Band, 227-piece Orchestra, and 601-member All-State Chorus were held on Saturday, October 26, 2019, around the state. Approximately 17% of the students who audition are selected for membership in the All-State ensembles. Participants will rehearse in Ames on Friday and Saturday, November 22nd and 23rd, and the Festival Concert will be presented to the public at 7:30 P.M. in Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State University, Ames, on Saturday evening, November 23rd, 2019. Iowa Public Television will record the concert for rebroadcast. Check the IPTV website for exact dates and times. 

This year's marching band made huge strides since last season , including choreography sets and two marching competitions. The Chiefs competed at Ottumwa and Muscatine , and gained valuable experience. The director of our marching band this year is Mr. Knipe. Knipe is new to the Keokuk school District. Last year's director was Mr. Hetzel.

This year will be the first year Knipe has directed the marching band as a teacher . Knipe spent some time with the University of Iowa Marching Band. This year KHS has three drum majors , Rose Hutson , Austin Brown , and Logan Roach.

On the subject of pre performance jitters , Knipe said, "Butterflies before a performance never really go away , its honestly just a part of the process of performing. I usually think about the upcoming performance and what I need to do ,and breathe relax and know that the performance will be what it will be , as long as I do as I've practiced and enjoyed my time performing , I will be satisfied. "

How does Knipe reflects on the bands performance "If there is a recording of the performance I make sure to listen to it and make sure to reflect on it. I also allow the band members the opportunity to watch and listen to the performance. After this, always relax/decompress."

Knipe and the pep band will be featured at the home basketball games this season. The KHS Jazz Band will also be competing this winter. Jazz and Chili is the big event for the Jazz band members and boosters as well.

Dave Pittman is a Christian artist from Nashville who suffers from Tourette's syndrome. Growing up Pittman was bullied a lot. At the age of ten he almost committed suicide, but his parents early arrival home stopped it from taking place. He had written a note that his mother saw. They sent him to counselling and it was also decided that he would be home-schooled. After a while it was okay with Dave and his parents for him to go back to public school, but in a different school district. They informed the school about his condition and answered any questions that were asked. Later on in life Dave found that he loved singing. He decided that he wanted to make a career of it and that's what he did. He sang on American Idol and ever since then his life and voice have taken him to great places.