Musicians mix rhythm with good deeds

By Cheryl Sherry
Post-Crescent staff writer

APPLETON — One student said it was “a wakeup call.”

Another said “they spread a great message.”

That’s just what Sheltered Reality, an Iowa-based percussion group, meant to do Monday as it entertained and educated students at St. Joseph Middle School.

Sheltered Reality is a nationally recognized, award-winning ministry that promotes advocacy on behalf of children and teens facing a variety of difficult situations. Their primary platform since forming in 1997 has been homelessness.

“The average age of a homeless person in America is 9 years old,” Steve Schlosser told students after a rousing opening number featuring Gloria Estefan’s “Cuba Libre.”

“I need you to go home and share these numbers with someone who is not here. We ask you to go and educate someone else. There is power in numbers.”

The goal of the group, which had two rhythmically coordinated musical presentations Monday at St. Joseph and today at Seton Catholic Middle School in Menasha, is not only to get the attention of students with their music, but also to educate and motivate them to take action.

Its “music with meaning” curriculum is meant to be the spark that promotes volunteerism. Students at St. Joseph were encouraged to donate stuffed animals, which will go to homeless children. They also were invited to be part of the group, which is seeking to plant roots in Wisconsin.

Judging by the crowd’s standing ovation, Schlosser got his point across.

“I thought it was amazing,” said sixth-grader Billy Greisch, 12. “They came here and they spread a great message with what they were doing today. It was pretty sweet to see. It was really loud and you really got into it.”

“Incredible awesome,” was the response of seventh-grader Sarah Pappas, 13. “It was definitely a wake-up call. It gets the message across.”

Principal Tony Abts and seventh-grade teacher Connie Hogan cut footloose during the high-energy performance directed by Schlosser.

“You are going to see a lively presentation that will shake you,” Abts told students by way of introduction. “You are going to be moved in your chair. But more important than that, this is a group that is doing ministry using the gifts God gave them … to make a difference in the world.”

Cheryl Sherry can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 249, or by e-mail at csherry@postcrescent.com