Between Band, Orchestra, and Choir students have multiple outlets to express themselves using music. Some students have taken their passion outside of the classroom. Several have joined music-oriented clubs featured at Hays High School, while others have created something new. Seniors Parker Muelheleisen and Coy Stutterheim formed “Agents of Chaos.”
“We are the Agents of Chaos, our own band. We go around to school events and either play the national anthem or perform our own songs to get the audience pumped up,” Stutterheim said.
Muelheleisen got involved in music due to his influence from his family. While they established the Agents of Chaos throughout the
summer of 2024, Muelheleisen had experience forming bands previously. Along with his older brother, they formed the band “Slayer” which won first place twice during 2022 and 2023 at the Hays High School talent shows.
“Music has been with me for most of my life, even from parts of my family who are very creative and talented,” Muelheleisen said.
The band, Agents of Chaos, was formed with the goal of playing as many school events as possible, Muelheleisen and Stutterheim have so far played at two football games, the school bonfire, the first pep rally, and the Hays City Shootout.
“Honestly, ever since I did my first ever gig at the Hays Middle School back in 2021, I just knew that I should keep playing and exploring my talents, and school was the best environment for me to express myself,” Muelheleisen said. “From where it has led to throughout all these years, it has started expanding and a lot of opportunities were being created.”
The Agents of Chaos write their own songs and have achieved first place in the past two talent shows at Hays High School during 2024 and 2025.
“What I love to do with my music is to express myself and maybe even discover something new about me, I never really try thinking too much about how I’m going to write this song or what song should I play next,” Muelheleisen said. “I just have an open mind and go with the flow and the great thing about it is that whatever emotions I’m going through… my instrument can bring that out without me saying anything”
The Agents of Chaos are known around Hays High School for their lively sets with fog machines, lights, and loud energetic music.
“Almost everything that I do to get a good audience is by just being myself and enjoying the moment, and the thing that I’ve come to understand is that whatever emotion or expression you use to the crowd, it always comes back at you with the same energy,” Muelheleisen said. “Because if you play a show with no emotion, your crowd will react to you with the same energy.”
Music is a prevalent part of many people’s lives whether they are aware of it or not. For Muelheleisen and Stutterheim they make the most of their talents and use them to engage with other students.
“Music is literally my life; it’s been with me through the ups and down and it honestly defines who I am. I don’t know who I would be if I really didn’t take my love for music very seriously,” Muelheleisen said.
