Bonaparte Music Bonanza planned for April 2

On Saturday, April 2 at 7 p.m., the Fourth Annual Bonaparte Music Bonanza will be held in the gymnasium of the Bonaparte Community Improvement Building (the former school building).

Showtime will be at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 pm with a Soup Supper being held in the cafeteria (for a free will donaon).

“This show has evolved since it began over 4 years ago,” says Director Bonnie Cass. “The show has always featured many, very talented vocalists and musicians from throughout the Tri-State area. If you’ve never attended, you can't imagine the caliber of talent that we have packed into one cast.”

The 2022 Music Bonanza cast will be performing music from a variety of genres. There are many combinations of family groups that perform, such as Dan Miller and his daughter Kerri Harris and granddaughter Maddyson Countryman. Kerri is a 3-time winner of the Bill Riley talent show at the Iowa State Fair.

Another father and daughter act will be Jeremy Hissem playing guitar and performing with his daughter Kaylynn. Brother and sister Justin and Jolene Snider often perform a duet, but individually they each shine in solo acts. The audience has been so surprised at the deep vocals of 16 year-old Justin.

New to the cast and performing a duet are husband and wife Rick & Janice Ekle. These two high school sweethearts have performed together in the former Deckhands shows at Central Lee High School.

Producer and soundman for the show Brandon Cochenour started singing in music shows as a teenager, when the Farmington Auctioneers used to host the Farmington Jamboree. Brandon’s maternal grandfather was a member of the cast of the Jamboree. This year a family member will be joining Brandon on stage to perform.

Guitarist Michael Browning will accompany several of the performers with his many guitars throughout the evening. Michael has been on the stage playing his guitars and performing throughout the Tri-State area this past year. Michael will be accompanying the very talented Marcella Hannam.

Brenda Hendrichsen, Joe Short and Cody Neuweg, Tracy Anderman and Clayton Hendrchsen make up the Beer Day group. They will perform an uplifting gospel number with a variety of string instruments and vocals.

The multi-talented Mr. Tom Allen, dubbed the singing cowboy, has also acted in many of the Van Buren Community Players performances over the years. He just performed as pirate Smee for the play Peter Pan. Corey Whitiaker will return for a solo performance and you may see him and Tom Allen in a comedy act with some other cast members.

Director Cass, explains that each cast member volunteers their me to perform at this fundraiser. Proceeds from this event go toward the upkeep of the former school building. The building is owned and operated by the non profit group Bonaparte Community Improvement Associaon (BCIA). The building has become a hub for many community events and activities.