ALUMNI
NOTES
See
the AHS Alumni Collage...
Alumni join WE on
stage for traditional "Sleigh Ride"
Marissa Louke ('01)
Since graduating from high school, Marissa has been attending the
University of British Columbia, located in Vancouver and is looking
forward to graduating in May 2006. While she is pursuing an Archaeology
and History Degree, she has continued to play bassoon in the Vancouver
Youth Symphony Orchestra and UBC Wind Ensemble. In December 2005,
she traveled to Taiwan and Hong Kong with the UBC Wind Ensemble.
Michael Suskin
('00)
Michael is pictured here
with the green garter band at U of O. He is currently pursuing a business
degree and is on full scholarship for music, playing lead in the green
garter and marching bands. He is the lead player that is screaming
double G's at every U of O event. Michael was a fantastic student,
and is the brains behind many traditions that Aloha Trumpet players
still continue to this day. He is a great example of students who
have gone on with Music at the university level, but also study/major
in other subjects.
-submitted by Mr. Bundy
Justin Prunk ('99)
Justin is a very fine bassoonist
and tuba player who probably plays everything else. After graduating,
he pursued a music education degree from the University of Oklahoma.
He is currently the band director at McKay High School in Salem, Oregon.
He is a wonderful musician, and has already had a powerful impact
as an educator. This photo was taken at the U of O, where Justin's
band performed a fine show of original music that Justin composed
and arranged. He also wrote the drill! We are planning to have Justin
come and work with our Wind Ensemble this year.
-Submitted by Mr. Bundy
Safana
Wilde ('99)
Yay for band and Mr. B!
First of all I would like to thank Mr. Bundy. You were a great mentor
and inspiration for me through High School. You always knew the right
thing to say to make me feel better, or inspired to be better, or
to look at things in more than one way.
As for me, I have spent the last 6 years living the life of a struggling
artist and loving every moment of it. Along with music I pursued my
other passions of theatre and dance. I danced in the nutcracker as
"the rat king". That was a really funny role because the
rat head was sooo hot and heavy! AND I could barely see. but somehow
I managed not to fall off the stage and to be what they said was their
best rat king ever! yah! I also was the lead dancer in the Northwest
children theatre's Arabian nights doing belly dancing and sword dancing
and veil dancing. The rest was mostly my own performances which I
did in a Cabaret act style at different clubs around town such as
Dante's and Pasha. I got heavily into acrobatics and dance and would
perform with fire and masks and crazy costumes and themes. this was
lots of fun. Music continues to be a very important focus, not only
in finding appropriate music for my acts but in my everyday life.
I continue to play piano and guitar everyday. and would feel quite
empty without it in my life. I mainly play for myself but have done
a few open mics and also did a duet at Conan's (now the Hawthorne
theatre) with my close friend Kiel from the local band DEBRIS. I will
start recording my first album this next year. I have performed at
a few poetry open mics as well.
I encourage you all to keep the art inside of you alive and to follow
your hearts.
with much love ---- safana (class of '99)
Curtis Bergquist
('04)
Curtis, at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is currently
pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance under the
watchful eye of Dr. Brooks de Wetter Smith, while also attempting
to
acquire a chemistry minor. He is in the Wind Ensemble this year and
plans to give a half recital in the spring.
Matt Passino ('03)
Matt has continued his
experiences in colorguard by being a member of the Crossmen Drum Corps
in 2004 where they places 11th in the World Championships in Denver,
CO and in 2005 he was a member of New Era Winterguard a new Independent
Open winterguard in the Portland area. He is now preparing to be a
member in Santa Clara Vanguard Drum Corps. After the DCI World Championships
in Foxboro, Ma in August he plans to teach at local high schools.
Gus Bott ('94)
Gus is married and living
in SE Portland. After high school he went to to UO - into the music
program. He joined the band "American Girls" his sophomore year and
continued with that band until after graduation with a music degree
in 1998. Eventually the Am. Girls morphed into "Dr. Theopolis" - in
the same time frame, Gus married in 2000 and went back to UO to study
for a Masters in Arts Administration, which he received in 2002. He
and his wife moved back to Portland at that time and he eventually
went to work for the Zimmerman Community Center in the Pearl Dist.
He is working there still but has been accepted into the PSU School
of Urban Studies Masters program. Meanwhile, "Dr. Theopolis" continues
to play on and has at least 1-2 gigs per month, if not more.
Chrissie
Gilbert ('01)
Chrissie attends University
of Washington and will be graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Music
Performance this spring. She is a founding member of the Andromeda
Winds Consort.
Michael D. Sheley,
2dLT, USAF
Sheleym@baf.afgn.army.mil
Mike is in the US Air Force,
currently stationed in Afghanistan. He recently sent a note to Mr.
Bundy...
"...good to see that
you are still out there helping kids to appreciate the power of music,
discipline and team work! I ended up playing the clarinet at Oregon
State for 3 or my 5 years (not playing Senior year) and then when
I ended up going to Air Force Officer Training School, the marching
skills DEFINITELY came in handy! I even picked up my clarinet and
started playing again after taking almost 2 years off.
You were a great music
teacher and a good mentor for myself and my friends. I wanted to thank
you for that..."
Andrew Thompson
('01)
Andrew is currently finishing
his degree in Music Education from the University of Arizona. Recently
he has continued his impressive performing career by playing for Jazz
Legend Diane Schuur and performing in the Disney College Band. We
anxiously await Andrew’s work with musicians of the future!
Submitted by Mr. Bundy
ALUMNI (students &
families)
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