Helias students express faith through music By Becca Maples   Music is a big part of Helias’s identity. More important, though, is the Catholic faith the school was founded on. Luckily, Helias music students are blessed with the chance to combine the two, growing in their own faith as they cultivate others’ with their music. Helias provides plenty of opportunities for students to get involved with their faith using music. All-school Masses are one example. Music for these Masses is often provided by the Helias Concert Choir. Other times a small ensemble of student musicians – singers, guitarists, and other instrumentalists – is pulled together to offer their talents to the student body at Mass. Participating in school events is one thing, but Helias musicians go above and beyond by sharing their talents with the larger Jefferson City community. Senior Katie Arnold is the Marching Crusaders’ drum major and an active member of the band, but she also finds time to lend her musical talent to the parishioners of Immaculate Conception Church, adding her flute to the array of musicians in the parish’s Young Ensemble, which she helped to create. “I thought that we needed to get stronger youth involvement in our parish and to use our talents to bring wonderful music to the faith community,” said Arnold. The nearly two-year-old ensemble also includes Helias students Ryan Finke, Nathan Charbonneau, Becca Maples, Morgan Stockman, Justin Balk, Amber Haslag, Jennifer Schweiss, Emma Flowers, Beth McGrail, Justin Balk, Sarah Stewart, and Nick Farrow. Another group of Helias students has just recently begun sharing their musical talents in a new forum at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The parish’s new Life Teen program provides a liturgy designed for high school students. Among other things, this includes more youth-oriented service music. Several Helias students contribute to the “Life Teen Band,” including singers Hannah Smith and Cortney Wolters, guitarists Will LePage and Daniel Porting, drummer Jorden Bax, and pianist Becca Maples. These are just a few ways students use their musical gifts to get involved with their faith outside of Helias. While these events are not always Helias-specific, the students involved are a reflection of the school and continue to shine a positive light on the music department and on Helias as a whole. Whether at or outside of school, Helias students would agree that music is a large part of being Catholic and a great way for students to share their talent.