The community was treated to a Pops Concert performed by the Unalaska City bands on May 18, 2016 at the high school big gym. The 5th grade woodwind band opened the show with eight short pieces. The junior high and high school bands followed performing an array of popular musical and cinematic tunes, like Hunger Games and a Duke Ellington medley. This was the last concert for the school year, and for four seniors, it was the last for their high school career.
Band director Kerry McNamara praised the 12th graders, reminiscing that she took over the program when they were freshmen. McNamara moved to Unalaska to be the music teacher in 2012. That year, the program only had 24 musicians. She spoke to the leadership of the four senior band members and stated that, “they were part of the group that was so committed to music that they were willing to give it a shot, stay in the band, even though they didn’t know who I was. And I know from experience that it’s kind of scary to stay in a program, an established program, with a new leader on it.”
McNamara took the small group to compete at the Regional Festival that year. Donnie Lane, one of the seniors, shared his perspective of that time. “When we all joined in we didn’t know what the future of the band was going to be like. It was a real time of uncertainty,” he began. “But after winning second that year, we felt a little bit more confident. I think the rest of the school did too, with Ms. Mac’s teaching ability. The next year, I’m pretty sure we were pushing 40 people in the band. And we’ve been pushing 40 for the past three years.”
He credited this success to McNamara. Since then, they have consistently placed first in the regional competition, Aurora Music Festival. This year’s event was in Houston, Alaska from April 14 to 16 and most of the members of the Unalaska High School band made it to the Honors Band. Kaye Gumera, Bridget Nalam, Zydneigh Earnshaw, Taylor Holman, Brian Conwell and Chris Garcia were selected to perform First Chair. Conwell and Garcia were chosen and performed in the Solo & Ensemble Music Festival early this month.
Lane shared his stamp of approval saying. “I think, I can speak for all us when I say, the future of the high school band is in good hands, with Ms McNamara teaching.”