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The Student News Site of Ankeny High School

The Talon

The Student News Site of Ankeny High School

The Talon

The Student News Site of Ankeny High School

The Talon

“I would definitely be a completely different person, because I found my voice. You'll see me in the hallways, and I talk to people, and I like to ask people questions. I'm not scared to volunteer for things. And before I was involved in anything music-related, I was dead silent. I just didn't talk to people. I just kind of kept my head down and kept walking.” Lyles said. “And now I'm the person who always is saying, “hey, have a great day,’ things like that. So it's given me the gift to find myself, and help other people find themselves.” Created by Sylvia Bartlett using Canva.

Major impact in a minor key

Sylvia Bartlett, Staff Reporter May 12, 2025

Music is one of humanity's oldest tools, going back thousands of years. According to the Smithsonian, the first instruments date back over 35,000 years, and the first recorded piece of music was from 800...

The Ankeny speech teams have been working hard in the last few months on their performances, strengthening their skills to hopefully advance in competition and public speaking abilities.

The Ankeny Speech team had five groups advance to the State Large Group contest this past weekend by excelling at the District contest held at Des Moines East High School. 
The State Large Group contest will be held at Waukee High School on Saturday, Feb. 8.

The All-State Large Group festival will be held at Iowa State University on Saturday, Feb. 22.

The future of Ankeny’s competitive performing artists

River Phillips, Staff Reporter February 7, 2025

Saturday, Jan. 25, the members of the Ankeny High School (AHS) Large Group Speech team headed to the district contest at Des Moines East High School, but what exactly does that mean, and what do the speech...

Fine arts teacher and assistant music director Kelly Weber leads the band after a pregame performance on Sept. 27.

Future Ready Week series

River Philips and Rucsandra Vlad November 6, 2024

This past year over 35,000 students participated in theatre programs in Iowa, and around 20 percent of students nationally are involved in a high school music ensemble. But how do these programs prepare...

(From left) Elijah Feldhans, Eva Drew, Adam Van Thomme, Atticus Pottratz (back middle), Jenna Freeseman, Nick Robie.

“I love the energy that can be felt from every single person on stage. I love being a part of such a happy and intense ending of such a great show,” senior Atticus Pottratz said.

Ankeny show choirs begin their season with a bang in Bloomington

Josie Babcock and Vivian Wu January 30, 2024

On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Ankeny Show Choirs attended the Bloomington Gold Show Choir competition in Bloomington, Minnesota. Ankeny’s treble prep group, Intensity, received first runner-up in the treble...

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