Eight Crusader seniors committed to participate in fine arts at the next level during the 2026 Spring Semester. These seniors took part in the Concordia’s Fine Arts Signing Day with many receiving scholarship funds tied to their involvement in their major and extra-curricular groups. Other seniors will be pursuing involvement in an art through an audition process for voluntary fine arts events that represent their institution.
- Caleb Brandon ’26 (Theatre) signed with Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward, NE) for a theatre scholarship and will pursue their pre-seminary program and will major in Business Administration. In addition to theatre productions for Concordia University, Brandon will also pursue being part of the university’s handbell choir. While at CLHS, Brandon was involved in the Handbell Choir and several Concordia Players theatre productions including the One Act Play and the Musical.
- Eden Heckner ’26 (Theatre) will attend Concordia University Irvine (Irvine, CA) and will major in Behavioral Science. Heckner also plans to audition for Theatre productions at Concordia. She was a four-year member of choir (three years in Concert Choir and one year in Treble Choir) as well as several theatre productions (One Act Play and Musical) for CLHS including most recently the role of Elsa in Frozen this school year.
- Mark Mahlmann ’26 (Band) will attend Baylor University (Waco, TX) and will major in Archeology. Mahlmann also plans to audition for the Baylor Marching Band. He was a four-year member of the Symphonic Band as well as a member of the Jazz Band, Drumline, the pit orchestra for Musicals, Concert Choir, and Swim for Concordia.
- Nathan Okikiolu ’26 (Choir) signed with University of Texas at Tyler (Tyler, TX) for a choir scholarship and will major in Biochemistry. Okikiolu will be in either the Patriot Singers or the UT Tyler’s Choral Ensemble. While at Concordia, Okikiolu was a four-year Concert Choir member and was also part of the Chamber Choir for three years.
- Jonathan Shivers ’26 (Band) will attend Baylor University (Waco, TX) and will major in Statistics. Shivers also plans to audition for both the Baylor Marching Band and the Symphonic Band. While at Concordia, he was a four-year member of the Symphonic Band as well as a member of the Jazz Band and the Esports team.
- Marley Wheless ’26 (Choir) will attend Samford University (Homewood, AL) and will major in Nursing. Wheless also plans to audition for a choir at Samford. While at Concordia, she was a four-year member of the Concert Choir and a three-year member of the Chamber Choir. She also was one of the singers selected to perform in the 2024 Gala’s mini musical from Phantom of the Opera.
- Lucas Winetrout ’26 (Choir) will attend the University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX) and will major in Mathematics and Plan II Honors. Winetrout also plans to audition for either the Concer Choir or the Tenor-Bass Choir at UT. While at Concordia, he was a three-year member of the Concert Choir, a two-year member of the Chamber Choir, a member of the Messengers Worship Band, and participated in a One Act Play on the tech side and a choir member in last year’s musical.
- Aydan Wright ’26 (Band) will attend Baylor University (Waco, TX) and will major in Electrical & Computer Engineering. Wright also plans to audition for the Baylor Marching Band. While at Concordia, he was involved in Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Sader Jazz 7 Combo, Drumline, Orchestra, and Lacrosse.
We are proud of these students and all our alumni who participate in extracurriculars at the next level in fine arts, athletics, or agriculture programs! For more information on all of our Fine Arts at Concordia, visit www.sadernationtx.com/finearts