OHS senior Katko wins state choir honors
Apr. 15—OSKALOOSA — Andrew Katko has a gift — one he believes is God-given.
The Oskaloosa High School senior is one of the strongest bass singers in Iowa, landing him honors for All-State in Choir for the second time. He got another feather in his cap last week by receiving a perfect score at the Solo/Small Ensemble Festival at Grinnell College — singing "The Vagabond" by John Ireland and "Der Liermann" for choir and "Charming Ballerina" for band.
Katko has been singing for almost as long as he's been talking. The Catholic Church was and still is a major source of his interest in music, with song being the highest form of praise.
"I was raised in the belief of, 'Give thanks to God for what he's given you for your talents," Katko said. "One fun thin my mom used to say was, 'If you have a good voice, sing loud, so God knows that you appreciate it. If you have a bad voice, sing louder, so he knows that he messed up.'"
Katko sings loud as a cantor at his church. And his love for music quickly got him involved in Oskaloosa High School's music program, and he became one of choir director Chris Weinreich's best pupils.
"I've known him since middle school and probably before that, since I was a teacher to his sisters as well," Weinreich said. "I've enjoyed listening to him grow as a musician, not just in choir, but also in what he does with bands — the bands that he's in, the way he's able to improvise on sax."
If it's music-related, Katko has likely been a part of it. From bands to musical theater, including performing at King Triton in the school's most recent production of "The Little Mermaid." His ability and wealth of knowledge have additionally made him the go-to for the Oskaloosa choir and band members looking for advice and opinion.
"I think people rely on him to kind of double-check themselves to make sure that they're singing the right thinks as well," Weinreich said. "He's a very strong leader in the choir and a lot of people rely on and look up to him for that."
But music isn't his only talent. Katko's got the build of a football player and he's been a strong part of the OHS offensive and defensive lines. He was accepted to play at Wartburg College. While there, he's studying music as well as pre-medicine. He has ambitions of becoming a doctor, but he's keen to continue with his passion.
"I've always had a love for medicine... so I feel like that is my true calling," Katko said. "And music is a gift that I have that I do want to pursue further if not anything else, just to have it as another aspect to my life."
Donald Promnitz is the associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. He can be reached at dpromnitz@ottumwacourier.com. Follow him on Twitter @DonPromnitz.
