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"As campus was opening back up to in-person classes in the fall of 2020, the orchestra did so in a very large space. We did not allow any aerosol-producing instrumentalists into the orchestra. We just had strings and percussion perform distanced from one another. Everyone wore a mask. We all had our own stands at the time, so there was no touching of the same papers or moving of chairs. I was responsible for doing all of that moving and setting up myself, and the students simply came and went. When they came in, they had to be in a certain single file line and exit in a certain single file line, go down and up the hallway in a certain direction while not going past other people. I don't think anyone contracted COVID in the orchestra that entire year, if I'm not mistaken. Although we could not perform for a live audience, we still worked hard to share all that music provides. What we did was to record music, at a clip of about one song per week—an astonishing rate. Our recordings were paired with video to add additional meaning, often juxtaposing intent in a unique way. Through video and music we spoke to love, equality, and freedom, to name but a few. And these videos were shared with the greater public. I was proud that the orchestra met and was live, in person. I think we were the only orchestra in the state of Wisconsin that was meeting live in person at that time because I chose to limit it to strings only and percussion. And I'm proud that we did it safely. " Dylan Chmura-Moore, 2022, Associate Professor, Music, Director of UWO Symphony Orchestra #UWO #uwoshkosh #orchestra #campuscovidstories #oshkosh #conductor #music (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: These are stories from the Campus COVID Stories project that will be presented at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2023, at UW Oshkosh, Music Hall. For more info, please visit the events page. https://ift.tt/nbwCr4d Portraits by Pat Flood.) https://ift.tt/RSjl8Ep

"COVID was a bad time, but it was kind of like a reality check. I worked as a CNA in a nursing home in my hometown, which consisted of around 100 beds. At the end of the day, I had rashes on my hands from using such hot water and hand sanitizer non-stop, because I was more terrified to bring COVID to my mom. She's a medical mystery because she has a weird condition where she apparently doesn't have many white blood cells, and we weren't sure how she would react to COVID. That was my biggest fear. COVID broke out a little bit by a little bit at work. It started off with two isolation rooms because we had two positive cases, and then it turned into basically a whole entire COVID unit. Emotionally, that was probably one of the worst things I'd ever experienced, especially at 19 years old to see so many people dying and asking you to sit there and pray with them, hug them, or just be there with them. All of a sudden, I think we lost over 15 people through COVID and I was working every day. I wasn't always on that unit, but I knew who's down there. It was definitely hard to go through that and then lose people at the end of the day. It made me question myself when I went home from work. I cried to my family on most days. However, It was very gratifying to hear different family members tell me how it made their day to see what I was doing for their loved one. I think it actually solidified that I was in the right place in my life." Jordan Cooper, 2021, Nursing major #campuscovidstories #oshkosh #uwo #uwoshkoshh #nursing #CNA (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: These are stories from the Campus COVID Stories project that will be presented at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2023, at UW Oshkosh, Music Hall. For more info, please visit the events page. https://ift.tt/nbwCr4d Portraits by Pat Flood.) https://ift.tt/o23wzUI

“I have worked in the Oshkosh Area School District since 1998. I started as a lunch helper at Smith Elementary for some extra cash. When a position opened up, I quickly got my resume in order and sent it in via snail mail! Those were the days before email. I accepted the job in August 1999 and started working as a Title 1 Reading Paraprofessional (Para). In May of 2007 the district was dissolving all the Reading Para positions and I got my first official ‘pink slip.’ That didn’t last long as the position of Library/Media Para opened and I slid into that at Smith. Fast forward to May 2019…The school my kids went to, blocks from my first home, the school where I met my amazing coworkers and lifelong friends, started a career 20 years prior and was closing in six weeks. Again I was temporarily out of a job. As it had happened in the past, a position opened up across town at Oaklawn Elementary in the library and I slid into the “new to me” (same) position. I am responsible for checking in/out library books and materials for students and staff. Help students find books at their reading level. Help with pulling classroom collections for teachers. Shelving books. Processing new materials. Creating monthly displays. Maintaining the Chromebooks and troubleshooting problems with them. My biggest personal challenge is working with children who have experienced some very difficult situations for their ages. Multiple traumas, homelessness etc. Listening to them, being understanding of what may have happened before school or what is going to happen after school and reassuring the student that I will be here tomorrow for them. I had to learn quickly to not take things personally. That’s a hard one at times…And keeping up with new technology and being one step ahead of the students who are computer savvy!” “What do you find most rewarding?” “Everyday is a little different. I have had to switch gears on a dime many times. Often it’s not what I had in my plans but somehow everything always works out. I know it’s cliche, but it really is about the kids and seeing the growth they make year after year. I enjoy keeping up with my students and have remained close to many over the years. Some are now parents of their own and I’m always excited when I get a chance to see the next generation walk through the door.” (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: This awesome human of Oshkosh, who provided the photo, reached out to us asking us to feature her fellow paraprofessionals in the Oshkosh Area School District. We thought we’d start with her story first.) #OASD #oshkosh #paraprofessional #library #publicschools https://ift.tt/EO5eXA8

“I initially started playing percussion in 6th grade after transferring to a new school. I joined the band to help make new friends. I originally wanted to play trumpet, but my school had a limited number of instruments to borrow, and my parents couldn't afford to get one from somewhere else, so I was more or less forced into percussion. I kept going as a musician throughout middle school, high school and eventually into college because of the people I've met through bands and the thrill of challenging myself musically. I started playing the bass guitar in the summer of 2020 to try to learn something new during Covid and got to have my first experience playing in an organized group during Bolt Band last year. I hope to become a music producer for television and film studios, whether it be making ad jingles, TV intros or full on movie soundtracks. Music has enhanced my life in so many ways. I have made lifelong connections to others through shared musical experiences in school, and I love the fact that I get to go on a stage every once in a while and express myself musically to a whole audience of people.” “Tell us why bass players always look so cool on stage.” “Because of the energy we give to the rest of the band.” #bassplayers #pepband #BoltBand #UWO #UWOshkosh #Oshkosh #band #percussion #UWOshoshTitans (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: You can catch this awesome bass player and equally awesome Bolt Band tonight (Jan. 25, 2023) when @UWOMBB take on UW-Platteville at 7 p.m. at Kolf Sports Center.) https://ift.tt/mHcvEal

“I’m thankful we’re able to get together again and get back to some sense of normalcy. The first COVID Thanksgiving I had to learn how to cook a turkey because we had to stay apart from everyone. My mom wrote out directions on Microsoft Word, a whole page full of instructions. It turned out perfect. I might do it again someday. But not this year. Mom is back making the Thanksgiving turkey.” “Why are you wearing a turkey hat?” “Because it’s Thanksgiving time!” #uwoshkosh #Thanksgiving #turkey #oshkosh #thankful (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: We met this awesome mom and son duo a couple days ago at the UWO men’s basketball game vs Edgewood College. Titans won 72-49. We are thankful for so many things. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.) https://ift.tt/Flw926y

“I’m a computer science major, and I have two music minors. I’ve been playing saxophone since I was in fifth grade.I absolutely think there is a connection! Both music and programming have challenged me to think critically, whether it is puzzling out the line of a musical phrase or tracing code. These are the kind of challenges I love, and they relate more than you would think! I find myself applying the same train of thought I use to understand music to help better understand a piece of code, and vice versa. Having a creative outlet is so important when you’re in school – to anyone who is thinking about it - join band!” #pepband #oshkosh #uwoshkosh #boltband #saxaphone (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: We are unabashed fans of the Bolt Band, which played at the UWO Women’s basketball season home opener Nov. 15, 2022. The pep band rallied the Titans to a 81-71 win over the Edgewood College Eagles.) https://ift.tt/myT5Qki

“We’re sisters and we used to have a mural business called Color Me Blonde for many years. We did a lot of big high-end murals on buildings. We were climbing scaffolding all the time, but I’m getting old. I’m in my 60s now so I’m not climbing as fast as I did.” “The chiropractor told her to hang up the brush.” “So we opened 2 Blondes in 2012. I would say we got our creativity from our mom, who taught us crocheting, knitting, woodworking, ceramics, anything crafty. We had a pottery wheel.” “When COVID happened, we remained open and were able to keep our business going. We switched to making masks. So many masks. Thousands. People weren’t coming in so we were running out to the cars 100 times a day, delivering the masks..” “We’re back doing what we do, a lot of bling on T-shirts, sparkle, rhinestones. When we first started, there were four glitter colors to put on T-shirts. Now there’s 72.” “People like the bling, the sparkle. It’s a piece of joy.” #oshkosh #DowntownOshkosh #bling #sparkle #sisters #womeninbusiness #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal https://ift.tt/0YHEmRk

“You ever get people yelling, ‘More cowbell!’ at you?” “No.” (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: We are unabashed fans of the Bolt Band members who played at the UWO Men’s basketball season opener Nov. 8, 2022. The pep band rallied the Titans to a 76-63 win over Lawrence University’s Vikings. We have to confess that we had to work very hard to NOT yell, “More cowbell” at the student musician who has been a percussionist for seven years.) #pepband #oshkosh #uwo #BoltBand #cowbelll #morecowbell #uwoshkosh #uwotitanthunder https://ift.tt/ZhFWG8v

“I’m with NextGen, a nonprofit organization, helping 18-35 year olds to get out and vote. I’ve been on campus this past month letting people know where to vote, when to vote, how to be informed on the candidates. I was a student here. I graduated in 2020, majoring in psychology and sociology. I’m now getting a master’s in professional counseling. When I was 18 I wasn’t informed. I didn’t really understand the power and the privilege of voting. I’m talking to 18-year-olds now and they say things like, “I don’t know who to vote for. I’m going to ask my parents” and I’ll say, ‘You can do your own research. There is non-partisan information available on the candidates. You can make your own decision. You can let your own voice be heard. Your vote matters.’" #vote #uwoshkosh #uwo #vote2022 #oshkosh https://ift.tt/qLuY9Om

“I grew up in the small Kansas town of Quinter. The population was 900. Now it’s about 750. There’s probably eight square blocks of town and the rest was surrounded by wheat fields. It’s all farming. My dad had the only car dealership in town. It’s a Chevy dealership. Mom was a stay-at-home mom. It was a great place to grow up. We never locked our doors. When I was 8, I asked for a guitar and learned some songs and when we’d have people over, people would say, ‘Oh Brent, sing for us.’ I hated it because I was really shy, but I’d bring out my guitar and sing. At that time, I didn’t know what Broadway was. I didn’t know a stage career was even possible. When I was a senior in high school, I took some college music classes and a teacher suggested that I attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. So I applied and auditioned and got accepted into their first class of musical theater. I look back and I think, ‘How did that happen?’ My mom grew up on a farm. My dad sold Chevys. They knew nothing about what I wanted to do. I was very lucky because they supported my dreams and paid for me to go to Carnegie. Since then, I’ve been on Broadway. I’ve played Billy Flynn (Chicago) for 24 years, on and off. I have the record of having the most performances as Billy Flynn. I’ve performed in the West End (London). I was the Phantom in Las Vegas for two years. It’s such an iconic role and I’m just so honored to be asked to be a part of it. I was so shy as a kid. Now I’m getting much more comfortable and I love being up there on the stage.” #oshkosh #grandoshkosh #phantomoftheopera #thefourphantoms (Note from Grace Lim, founder of Humans of Oshkosh: I am an unabashed fan of The Phantom of the Opera musical. Last night I had a dream-come-true opportunity to dine with not one, not two but FOUR bona fide Phantoms at the Grand Oshkosh. These are stars who’ve played the title role on Broadway and other venues worldwide. This particular Phantom, Brent Barrett, my dinner-mate, indulged my many questions about his life on the stage. He and the other three Phantoms and Kaley Ann, who played Christine on Broadway, will perform in Oshkosh Oct. 27-28 and conclude their Wisconsin run with the Gala World Premiere on Oct. 29, 2022. For more information, please visit https://ift.tt/wCX0uoW) https://ift.tt/H4Y9RPU

“We are doing low brass makeup. It’s Homecoming! We have to look pretty.” #Oshkosh #marchingband #titanthunder #UWOshkosh #brass (Note from Humans of Oshkosh: these student musicians are part of the Titan Thunder Marching band at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. They play baritones, euphoniums, trombones and sousaphones.) https://ift.tt/dKGPzSA

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