LAWRENCE — Sustaining greatness can be challenging, especially living in a world where things are constantly changing or evolving. 

That is no more evident than at the high school level. Every year is a set of new students, and in many cases, teachers and administrators.  

So when Lawrence Free State was awarded the Kansas State High School Activities Association Performing Arts School of Excellence Award back in 2019, the Firebird community was excited for the recognition for their hard work over that past year. 

Performing arts has been somewhat of staple for the school as the Firebirds have award-winning band and theater departments, along with a string of state titles in forensics and debate. 

So when the school was honored with the award for the second time earlier this year, it wasn’t a surprise to many as Free State earned several big accomplishments in the 2024-25 school year. What was surprising is how the Firebirds did it. 

In the last seven years, despite having different instructors in all the performing arts departments from the last time they won in 2019, the Firebirds maintained that level of greatness. New faces didn’t distract from their goals of being one of the top performing arts schools in the state. 

“It’s clear that our success is built on the support we receive from our community, our parents, and the teachers throughout the district, including our middle school directors and elementary music educators,” Free State activities director Matt Renk said. “They are an essential part of this recognition. All of our current directors are new to their positions since our last win in 2019, and they have challenged and inspired our students to reach even greater heights. Their collaboration, teamwork, and dedication are key reasons our performing arts department continues to thrive.” 

As important as the directors are to their respective programs, it is the students who show what the school is all about — and the Firebirds have plenty of prime examples of what makes them great. 

However, like with everything else in life, students are being pulled many different directions — whether it is academically, athletically, in the work place or with activities. To achieve the success they have had over the last several years, Free State needed student involvement. 
 

It seems obvious but getting that involvement can sometimes be hard for schools. The Firebirds have bred a culture where students can do both athletics and the performing arts — a mix that sometimes can be hard to achieve. 

“This speaks to those who teach at the earlier/younger levels,” Free State band director and performing arts chair Eric Bradshaw said.  “Schedules don't allow us to work collaboratively as much as we would like, but we try to support one another to the best of our ability. We also get to work with amazing students who see value in what we are doing as a performing arts department. It is not only a goal of ours but something we truly encourage – ‘You can do both!’ This applies to multiple disciplines in the performing arts as well as athletics, school clubs, etc.” 

No one knows this more than Free State seniors Anders Benson and Landry Koester. Both students are a part of four different groups in the performing arts world and time is precious.  

However, for them, it doesn’t feel like work — more like a getaway. 
 

“The performing arts classes have always given me a creative outlet and a break from thinking about homework or big tests,” Benson said. “They keep me thinking in the present moment, and keep me thinking about how I can improve what I am doing to help improve the ensemble as a whole. Throughout my four years, the main reason I enjoyed coming to school was because of these performing arts classes. Without them I don’t know how I would have gotten through school without being overwhelmed and unhappy.” 

Benson is heavily involved in the performing arts as he is a member of the band, orchestra, choir and theater. Needless to say, music and performing are a big part of his daily routine at Free State. 

Not only has music been an outlet, but it has encouraged him to work with others for the greater good of the group. 

“Music is my favorite thing to be involved in,” Benson said. “I love so many styles and genres of music and love all of the different ways it can be interpreted. There are so many different instruments to learn, and they all intrigue me in some way. I’ve always loved talking to the people who are involved in music at school, the directors and students always have some things that you can learn from and are always so kind. I would much rather be at a music rehearsal at the school working with my classmates than sitting at home.  

“The collaborative aspect of music is the most important. We work together as a team and we all help each other to make the best performance possible. I love being busy with music. It’s the best thing I can fill my schedule up with. I have made so many friends in the program as well. Having six music classes is amazing because I always have some friends in my classes and we are always there to create music together.” 

Working together is what has made Free State great in many different areas, and even though there have been new faces throughout the years, that consistency has been achieved through collaboration.  

“There is a tradition of excellence at our school,” Bradshaw said. “The school opened in 1997 and the arts here (and at Lawrence High School) has been something the community and our school system embraces. We have some of the absolute best teachers in our respective areas and they are also some of the most genuine and caring individuals I know. The groundwork was laid by those who came before us and I think we feel the obligation to continue offering our students the very best we can.” 
 

Koester has dabbled in many different areas during her four years at Free State as she is currently a member of choir, theatre, along with state renowned debate and forensics teams. 

The Firebirds have won six consecutive forensics state championships and that was one of the things that hooked Koester into the arts program. 

“I have always loved the performing arts, and Free State has such a great program,” Koester said. “During my years as an underclassmen, I saw our amazing programs and was inspired to work hard to maintain Free State's reputation. As a freshman, I watched our speech and debate team win state for the fourth time in a row, now going into my senior year, I am motivated to contribute to our team and try to make it the seventh straight year.” 

Koester has achieved that success of becoming a forensics state champion, along with being selected to take part in all-state choirs, due to the fact she is encouraged to always do more. 

“I think Free State always does a great job pushing their students to not just do the bare minimum, but go beyond what is expected from you,” Koester said. “Whether that is being a part of an extra after school ensemble, or doing a camp over the summer, the teachers and the students really care about making the program the best it can be. 

“The performing arts program has completely changed my experience at Free State. I have met some of my closest friends through choir, speech and debate, and theatre. It has given me a strong community to be myself and pushed me to be a better performer, speaker, and leader.” 

Although words are great, it is Free State’s accomplishments that speak for itself. 

• In debate and forensics, which is currently led by coach Parker Hopkins, the school was the debate state champion in 4-speaker and were top 8 in the country at the national competition. The Firebirds have won six straight forensics state titles and have the highest number of 1st Division ratings at the state festival (27) across all classifications. They are also the first school to win both debate and forensics state championships in the same year (2019 and 2025). 
• Six thespians under theater director Bryce Jones took an Individual Event (Thespy) to the 2025 Kansas Thespian Festival and four of those received Excellent ratings and two received Superior Ratings with perfect scores. A Free State thespian was one of three to win a Kansas Thespian Scholarship and have numerous winners of the Starlight Theater Blue Star Awards. 
• Almost one-fifth of the total students enrolled in band were selected to perform in the NEKMEA District Honor Band, while multiple students participate in the KMEA All-State Band every year. Free State had a student participant in the National Youth Wind Ensemble (2022). The Firebirds were also named Grand Champions at the Southern Plains Marching Band Festival in the fall of 2024. Eleven entries also received a superior rating at the state festival in the spring of 2025. 
• The Free State chamber orchestra, led by instructor Dawn Herron, received an invitation to perform at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and earned superior ratings at the large group festival with a perfect score in 2025. Selected students were also invited to perform with the hip-hop duo Black Violin this past year.
• Free State has had more than 60 students participate in the KMEA All-State choir over the last five years and more than 50 students took kpart in the KCDA Honor Choir under vocal instructor Josh East. It also earns superior ratings at the large group festival every year. 

Even with all these different types of honors and recognitions, it is the relationships with the students that help the advisors grow their programs. Then watching those same students reach their goals is a priceless feeling for everyone in the department. 

“Any time you experience the joy of something meaningful happening through a performance or competition, and the smile on the faces of the students when you/they know they just 'nailed it" to the best of their ability, that is a great feeling,” Bradshaw said. “Participation in the arts creates so many instant emotions as well as life-long memories. As far as the department, the opportunity I have to teach truly awesome young people, to work with incredibly talented and passionate colleagues who share a vision that is supported by our administration — that brings a tremendous amount of satisfaction.”