HURON — For nearly 30 years, athletes, teams, coaches and supporters of the various Huron High School athletic departments have seen its top performers recognized with induction into the Huron High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

This year, and going forward, those participating in the fine arts at HHS will have the same recognition.

The Huron High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame will induct its first member — longtime choral director Milo Pietz — at a special ceremony Sept. 14 in the Huron High School Auditorium.

There is a performance planned — of course — featuring some of the most talented individuals who graced the halls of HHS, including Joseph Mahowald, the Whitney family, Andriana Lehr, Callee Bauman Wachter and a performance by the members of the Pietz family.

The show is called “For the Love of Fine Arts,” and is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. There is no charge to attend, but a free-will donation may be made, with all proceeds going toward the Fine Arts Hall of Fame.

“I guess you would have to say that this discussion began about a year ago,” said Rhonda Kludt, one of the committee members tasked with organizing the inaugural ceremony, “right after Donna Pietz’s funeral.”

She went on to explain that many former HHS performers attended the funeral out of respect to the spouse of Milo Pietz, who passed away July 25, 2023. It was during a ‘catching-up’ session that Kludt said Mahowald pitched the idea of gathering a chorus of former students, for a performance that Milo Pietz would direct.

“That was what kind of got the ball rolling.”

The Fine Arts Hall of Fame is conceived beneath the umbrella of the Huron School District Foundation and is now a biennial event, taking place in the even-numbered years, opposite the years that the HHS Athletic Hall of Fame inducts its class. A plaque with the names of HOF members as they are inducted will be displayed outside the HHS auditorium, and the large center display case in the high school commons will feature memorabilia from Pietz’s time as choral director at the school — including blow-ups of each of the musicals produced at HHS during that time.

Going forward, all manner of high school performing arts — not only vocal and instrumental music — but also drama, debate, oral interp and one-act plays will be eligible for induction. A committee will begin working on the 2026 Fine Arts Hall of Fame class in the very near future.

In addition to a wide variety of musical acts, committee member and choral director Teresa Boyd Smith will direct a Community Choir for “For the Love of Performing Arts.” If you are interested, contact her via email at teresa.smith@k12.sd.us.

Instrumental musicians are needed as well, as Laura Beck will conduct a community band in playing the school song at the concert. Contact her at laura.beck@k12.sd.us to join the band.

Here is a list of performers, which is subject to change and addition prior to the Sept. 14 show.

Callee Bauman Wachter - A medley from “Guys and Dolls”
Raelynn Bodell - “Big Yellow Taxi”
Promethean Horde - a band made up of HHS teachers Mitch Gaffer, Adam Heagley, Michael Scott, Ben Halbkat, Beth Neitzert and James Stueckrath. The band will present an encore performance from its 2024 POPS Concert premiere.

A trio made up of Ann Blondheim, Denny Mahowald and Mark Rounds
Joeseph Mahowald and Elizabeth Mahowald
The Whitney Family - HHS graduates Steve Whitney, Mike Whitney, Geoff Whitney and Crystal Whitney.
String ensemble - including HHS Orchestra director Beth Neitzert, some current students and former director Hans Peterson
Andriana Lehr
Pietz Family singers - led by Milo and including siblings Russ, Marcia, Brian and Brenda.