Decorah HS musician wins Iowa Bandmasters Scholarship

Decorah High School musician Abigail Toussaint has become the first Decorah student to earn the Major Landers Scholarship provided by the Iowa Bandmasters Association.

A senior at Decorah High School and an alum of St. Benedict School, Toussaint has a passion for music.  She was captain of the color guard for half of her marching band career. Additionally, she launched indoor winter-guard at Decorah High School during her senior year. Toussaint is a principal player of the DHS Wind Ensemble and sits as first chair oboist. She has participated in numerous honor bands, received top scores at regional solo and ensemble contests, was selected as an Outstanding Performer with her oboe solo during her senior year, performs with the Oneota Valley Community Orchestra, and was chosen as a 2017 All-State alternate. She is also a member of the DHS Concert Choir and has received division one ratings in vocal entries at regional solo and ensemble contest every year. Furthermore, Toussaint has participated in speech and drama during all four years of high school; she has been involved in the school's fall musicals and variety shows. She has also gained valuable musical experience outside of the classroom as a pianist at her church for four years.

Toussaint was elected secretary of many school clubs including National Honor Society, Community Club, and Teens Against Alcohol and Tobacco Use (TAATU). She is also a member of the Decorah High School Student Council. Over her high school career, Toussaint has performed more than 200 hours of community service through the Silver Cord Volunteer Program. She has volunteered at the local toy-lending library, her church, the annual Alzheimer's walk, and numerous middle school band events. She has also been a Decorah Nordic Dancer for the past ten years.

Toussaint plans to attend Luther College next fall as a music education major. She longs to emulate her music teachers who have inspired her since the beginning of her musical journey. She dreams of opening students' eyes to the beauty of music while simultaneously fostering a lifelong love for the arts.