Colby grad joins Kids From Wisconsin

Michael Decker has never felt more alive, or more at home, than when he’s performing on a stage for an audience.

To some, that prospect is a huge fear, but not for Decker, who has spent years honing his singing voice and dancing skills with Colby High’s show choir.

“Performing is the ultimate feeling. I don’t really buy the whole “you were born to do this” mentality, but if I was meant to do anything, it was probably to sing and dance. It really is the ultimate feeling, there’s nothing better than getting on stage and performing.”

Decker, a 2020 graduate of Colby High, found a new outlet for his creativity last year, when he was one of just 36 talented young adults to be accepted into the Kids From Wisconsin, a performing troupe that has toured across the state for over 50 years.

To hear Decker describe the audition process, it sounds like a walk in the park.

“My old choir director, Spin, told me about it and encouraged me to do it. So I went online and signed up, and this was two years ago,” Decker said.

“I went down to the auditions in Eau Claire, and did my three minute song. They called me up and said ‘Hey, just want to let you know you’ve been selected as principal performer for Kids From Wisconsin.’ So that was very exciting.”

It was a dream come true for Decker, and he was relishing the prospect of performing all through last summer. But that dream failed to materialize after the coronavirus cancelled last year’s shows.

Decker and his crew were able to do some virtual recordings for outreach purposes, and put together a Star Spangled Banner routine that was also performed at the DNC in Milwaukee. “That was really cool to have millions of people hear your voice, so that was awesome.”

But the show must go on, and after a year long hiatus, Decker, and Kids From Wisconsin, are ready to make their triumphant return to the stage.

Also pretty awesome was that Decker and his entire group were invited back this year. Decker also gets his own home show, which will be in Medford.

“Medford is considered my home show, along with Cade Shipman, who is actually from Medford. A lot of people have been asking how to see one of my shows, and I can tell them they only have to go to Medford.”

Decker’s show will take place outside at the Taylor County Fairground on Monday, July 12, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, or can be purchased at the Coffee Co-op in Colby and County Market in Abbotsford. Children 12 and under are free.

Decker says none of this would be possible were it not for Colby and its support of the arts. He hopes future Colby grads will follow in his foot-steps and audition for Kids From Wisconsin.

“I learned to love performing at Colby. I learned technique from the show choir program and that’s what enabled me to have success and have the aspiration to do this. I hope others do the same.”