Nora Collins {Country music artist}
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Nora Collins has established herself as one of country music’s rising stars. Averaging over 200 appearances annually for the last five years, Nora has opened for national performers including Country Music Hall of Famer Ronnie Milsap, Phil Vassar, Kelsea Ballerini, Jon Pardi, Maren Morris, Brett Young, Jana Kramer, Ashley Monroe, Josh Thompson, Josh Turner, David Nail, Michael Ray, Raelynn, High Valley, Tucker Beathard, Jackie Lee, Sawyer Brown, Cassadee Pope, Mickey Guyton, Mo Pitney, Clare Dunn, American Idol Winner Lee DeWyze, Sixpence None the Richer, Katie Armiger, Paul Thorn and The Turnpike Troubadours.
Having self-released four albums of her original songs, Nora’s debut EP, which was recorded by legendary musician Tony Harrell and features co-writes from hitmakers Terry McBride, David Fanning and John Kennedy, was released on September 16, 2016. According to Nora, “Main Street Song and Dance Troupe was the highlight of my high school years. It was a great opportunity for me to learn and grow in so many ways as a creative person. I made special friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Main Street Song and Dance Troupe celebrates individuality in an encouraging and inclusive setting allowing dreamers to thrive.” Learn more about Nora at www.noracollins.com. |
Matt Post {electrical engineer}
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“Main Street has had a profound impact on my life. In addition to pursuing my love of music and performing, Main Street provided me with an opportunity to grow my self-confidence and gain leadership skills that have been invaluable to my growth as an individual.
Since graduating from Main Street, I attended MSOE and graduated in 2016 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and two minors in Math and Physics. During my time at MSOE, music remained a big part of my life and I directed the Men’s Choir for two years. I now work as an electrical engineer at Milwaukee Tool, and volunteer for Main Street as a sound technician. Main Street has remained a very special organization to me and I am more than happy to give back to this incredible group. I’ve met so many wonderful people during my time in the group and many remain some of my closest friends to this day.” |
Kaitlin Flynn {college student}
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“Main Street being the highlight of my high school years would be a complete understatement. It was a family, a safe haven, a place to be myself, and a place to share my talent with people that love to perform. The people you meet in this group are not only unbelievably talented, but extremely welcoming and loving to every person that joins the Main Street family. I met my lifelong friends through this group, that even now in college, I call them every week and keep tabs on their lives. I found myself in Main Street and the person I wanted to be; this group got me through some of the biggest heartaches because of the huge love and support system Main Street is.
Main Street is more than a high school performing group, it’s a family that you never leave even after graduating and having your senior moment on stage. My lifelong dream has always been to perform and Main Street fed my passion. In college, I am pursuing a biomedical engineering degree, however, I am considering switching to a musical theatre major. Main Street taught me the passion I need in performing, and I am amazed by how much I miss it in my life. I was recently accepted into the Disney College Program as a Character Performer for the spring of 2018 season, and I could not have done it without the experiences I had my four years in Main Street Song and Dance Troupe. I am also the lead in my humorology musical through the Delta Gamma sorority. Performing is my passion and I am forever grateful for finding my place in this troupe.” |
Katie Madsen {choreographer & dance instructor}
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“It’s amazing to realize that Main Street started 10 years ago! I feel so grateful to have been part of such an incredible group. Being a part of Main Street provided so many opportunities, but I’m most appreciative for the confidence it gave me – as a performer and as a person overall. Since Main Street, I’ve attended Brigham Young University (BYU) where I graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance Performance. As a student, I was a member of BYU’s International Folk Dance Ensemble where I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Croatia, Italy, and Spain and represent America in several festivals alongside dancers from other countries. Although being a part of folk dance left me with some great memories that I will always cherish, the best thing it brought into my life was my husband, Jacob – a fellow dancer. After graduating from BYU in 2015, I started teaching dance at several different studios – mostly ballet, tap, and jazz. My dream is to one day open my own dance studio and be able to incorporate my passion for folk dance. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of Main Street. And I have to give a special thanks to my mom (affectionately referred to by the troupe as “Mama Farrenkopf”) for making Main Street the amazing group it is. For 10 years, she has upheld the vision of creating a place for amazing and talented kids to become a family and create magic on stage. I always love coming back and watching Main Street’s shows, and I feel honored every time I get to come and choreograph for the group. I am blessed to be a part of the Main Street family.” |
Kevin McGroarty {performing music artist}
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Kevin McGroarty, under the alias Day Tvvo, has formed a unique and addictive energy in the music world since he graduated in 2016. His debut album Hands caught the eyes of national music blogs such as Divide and Conquer Music, and has attracted the attention of Grammy-nominated sound engineer Chris Steinmetz, with whom he has been working on his second studio album, scheduled to be released in early 2018.
Aside from touring, writing, and producing, Kevin has also seen his fair share of airtime starring in numerous TV and radio spots. As Kevin puts it, “Main Street gave me a platform to hone my skills and craft, and more importantly, gave me the confidence to execute them. The best memories of my high school career are ones with Main Street. You get to work hard, create, and rise above with people who care about you beyond the stage. Nothing beats that.” Learn more about Kevin at daytvvo.com. |
Travis Ulrich {college student}
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“I joined Main Street in the fall of my 8th grade year, and I remember walking in to auditions with my ukulele having never done an audition outside of elementary school plays. I somehow made it in, and before I knew it, I was participating in Main Street, my school musical, and private voice lessons with the one-of-a-kind Jeremy Nickolai.
Main Street’s rehearsals and performances, and Main Street’s amazing creative director, made me who I am today as a performer. Here I am, six years later, studying for a BFA in Music Theatre at Illinois Wesleyan University, and I couldn’t be happier. I will never forget about Main Street, and I will be forever grateful for the experiences and opportunities I have been given through this group.” |
Megan Wieber {college student}
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“Main Street gave me the opportunity to learn from upperclassmen about performing. I would watch everything they did and do my best to learn from them so that I could continue growing as a performer. Everyone in the group encouraged me and offered to come early and stay later to help with any dance or song I was struggling with. This positive community atmosphere allowed me to embrace this growing process. The troupe all allowed me to practice leadership skills in an environment that emphasized teamwork and excellence.
Main Street did not solely help me be a better performer, but also taught me the life skills I will need in my professional career. I have made lifelong friends through this organization and I cannot thank Main Street enough for giving me the most important part of my high school experience. Having kind and loving people to turn to when life gets stressful is an invaluable gift that Main Street so eloquently provided. I am currently studying Investigative and Medical Sciences at Saint Louis University. I hope to one day have a career in the healthcare field. Main Street gave me the musical background I need to continue music in college. I currently perform in a college all-female A Cappella group, Beyond All Reason. Here I have taken what I learned in Main Street and arranged music, beat-boxed, and competed in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. It has been a wonderful way to continue doing what I loved so much about Main Street.” |
Katey Kreh {dental student}
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“When I think back to my high school years, almost all of my favorite memories are from my time in Main Street. From the long rehearsals to the big shows, I always felt a joy renewed in me when I was with this group.
I joined as a shy freshman with only the intention of getting to sing and dance as a hobby. Over my four years though, I found some of the most incredible people I have ever met and created life-long friendships with them. We continue to support each other through college, marriages, our “adult jobs”, and whatever else life has put in our journeys. This group was truly my second family, guiding me along the tough years to become a stronger and more confident individual. Since Main Street I have been attending Marquette University to pursue my passion for Dentistry. After graduating with a degree in Biomedical Sciences, I am now in my 2nd year of Dental School. Upon receiving my Doctorate, I continue to work in public health initiatives to provide dental care to those in need. Pictured here is my happiest moment along my dental journey thus far, when I participated in a dental mission trip to rural Jamaica.” |
Becky Calhoun {physical therapist}
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“I was in Main Street from 2010 to 2014, throughout all 4 years of high school. I owe Main Street so many things…some of my best memories and my best friends.
Trying out as a freshman, I had no idea how this wonderful group of people would change my life. The biggest way Main Street impacted me was through promoting my confidence and allowing me to truly be myself. Main Street allowed me to express myself, and to do so along my very best friends. For that, I am truly grateful. Now, I am a senior in college at Saint Louis University studying Physical Therapy. It is an accelerated PT program, so I am in my first semester of grad school, with two and a half years left until I graduate and earn my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I am also involved in Relay For Life as the Administrative Exec Member. Music and theater are still large parts of my life, but as more of a spectator now. I think about Main Street all the time and how it changed my life. I truly believe that without Main Street, I wouldn’t be who I am today!” |
Nicole Schmit {college students}
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“Main Street gave me incredible opportunities and even better friendships. Some of my best friendships to this day were formed in Main Street, and I don’t know what I would do without them.
I am currently a senior at Marquette University majoring in exercise physiology. Soon, I’ll be headed to Minneapolis as an intern at the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, and I hope to be in graduate school for occupational therapy the following year. My confidence grew in the three years that I was in the group, and I am so thankful for the leadership experiences that I gained through Main Street.” |
Maddie Steele {college student}
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Since leaving Main Street, Maddie has been busy studying Musical Theatre at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. Some of her favorite performing roles include Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Robin Gibson in Smile, and Iola Stover in Parade. She spent the summer of 2017 teaching English at drama camps in Italy.
Maddie appreciates her time in Main Street for the lifelong friendships, as well as the training she has received which has helped her to win awards, scholarships and prizes for her voice. |
Brian Haas {advertising student}
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“Before I was in Main Street, I had only done one show and didn’t really know where I was going with it. It wasn’t until Main Street that I realized I had a passion for the arts. Through the people I met and the opportunities I was given Main Street gave me the confidence to pursue a field that some consider risky.
Since Main Street, I’ve attended Bradley University and studied Advertising with a minor in Marketing. I’ve completed internships at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and MCC Theatre in New York City, and I am now in my final semester of college, while interning at Telsey + Company Casting in Los Angeles. With graduation approaching in December of 2017, I am excited to see what comes next, but I can’t forget where I started.” |