MITCHELL – Mitchell’s theme for its annual Persimmon Festival is integral in the choice the Chairperson each year makes for the title of Grand Marshal.
This year’s theme is Art & Music: Our Students, Our Future. Carol Chambers, Chairperson for the 2023 festival, said this year is intended to “Shine a light on the art and music in Mitchell School systems.”
She said she now understands “the arts” also include writing as well as music, painting or drawing.
Students of the Mitchell school system have their art displayed in the storefront windows of local businesses located on Main Street for all to see during the festival. A school-wide writing contest was held earlier this month to also support the Persimmon Festival theme.
In honor of this theme, Chairperson Carol Chambers chose Becky Mason, Art Teacher for Mitchell High School and former Band Director of MHS Hank Wintczack.
Hank Wintczack
Hank was a graduate of Indiana State University in 1977 and the University of Illinois in 1979.
He taught junior and high school bands for 43 years, 40 of those years were spent right here in Mitchell. He currently plays saxophones in the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra, and the Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble, clarinet in the Heritage Hall Ramblers, and conducts the Swing Time Big Band in Bloomington.
“I have been fortunate enough to have had great teachers, mentors, and colleagues in Band and the Arts, but it all began with the encouragement and support from my parents, band teachers, and private teachers and it continues with the support and encouragement of my wife, Christy. I am forever grateful to all of these people.”
“Music, Band, Choir, Dance, Orchestra, and Art in all its many forms of expression are important and vital to our schools. Our students need to have these opportunities available to them. Christy and I have had our own five kids involved in the Arts in the Mitchell Schools and have seen firsthand how important it has been in the development of their appreciation of the Arts. Attend a school concert, or art show, display your students or your grandkid’s art, and encourage them to develop those seeds into something they can enjoy for a lifetime. So get out there… Look around, art is everywhere… Listen to the music and enjoy the Festival! “
Becky Mason
Becky Mason is a lifelong resident of Mitchell, Indiana. She has two sons, 28-year-old Cole, and 24-year-old Logan. She graduated from Mitchell High School in 1986, went on to get her teaching degree, and then her Master’s in Administration. Becky’s entire family is from Mitchell. Her grandparents live across the hill and her parents were always a perfect example of home to her.
“My childhood was magical. We were taught life lessons and to be our own person.”
She is currently the Art teacher at Mitchell High School and found a love for art from her parents and her high school art teacher, Mrs. Teresa Staley.
“When I received my teaching license I was blessed to be able to come back to Mitchell and teach students in the room that I found my love for art in. Every student should have the opportunity to experience the arts in whatever capacity they can. Not only do I want my students to love and appreciate art, I want them to learn to give back to their community. My art students have been designing and helping build the Persimmon floats since 2012. My Student Council helps with one of the food tents during the Festival also. We tend to do projects when people in the community need something. The Persimmon Festival is such a part of my growing up. It is a tradition that holds many fond memories for me. The festival is a wonderful community tradition that I hope many more families and individuals will be able to experience for many more years.”
The two Grand Marshalls can be seen tomorrow in the Persimmon Festival parade that starts at 2 p.m. Come out to see the floats, collect candy, and enjoy a celebration of local art and music.
