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Mike
Leckrone: "With
[VSA], one of the biggest thrills of the year is seeing those
students enjoy the experience of performing in front of an
audience that is appreciative. That is very satisfying. That
sense of accomplishment, there's just a joyous attitude that
just makes you feel good."
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20th annual VSA Day at Camp Randall
Oct. 20, 2007
Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin-Madison campus
UW vs. Northern Illinois
Bucky joins VSA Beading Marathon! Click here for pictures.
More than 250 VSA Choir and high school marching
band members with and without disabilities joined University of Wisconsin
(UW) Marching Band Director Mike Leckrone and the UW Marching Band Oct.
20 for the 20th annual VSA Day at Camp Randall.
Participants were featured in pre-game and halftime performances at
the Badgers' football game against
Northern Illinois.
Leckrone has served
on the VSA Board of Directors since October 1987. In 1988, inspired by
his wife’s experiences teaching children with disabilities, Leckrone
identified the need to create an integrated music program and VSA Day
was born. Through this program, he has energetically encouraged
countless people of all ages and abilities to make music an integral
part of their lives.
VSA Choir members from Eau Claire, Menomonie, Oshkosh
and Wisconsin Rapids took the field before the game to sign the
National Anthem in American Sign Language.
"VSA Day is a day we look forward to all year” says
Kathie Wagner, president of VSA arts of Wisconsin. "VSA
Choirs and high school marching band members with and without disabilities
all over the state prepare and practice for many hours to participate
at this event. It is such a thrill for each of them to have the chance
to perform in front of the huge UW crowd!" She adds, "Having
our participants performing on the field alongside the UW Marching Band
demonstrates that people with disabilities can actively participate and
express themselves as musicians."
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"The VSA Day Marching
Band" features high school band members with and without disabilities from
Cassville,
DeForest, Oregon, Sun Prairie, Syble Hopp-DePere and Verona.
Musicians
and
band
directors
around
the
state
put in
many
hours
of
practice
in
the
weeks before
the game
to prepare for their performance before a sell-out crowd of more than 82,000.
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 Video screens in Camp
Randall Stadium feature the VSA Day Band performance. |
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2007 VSA Day sponsors:
  
Additional support by University
of Wisconsin Athletic Department, and Mike Leckrone and the UW
Marching Band, with special thanks to Nick Motl, Top
Promotions, Whole
Foods and the Wisconsin
State Journal. |
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