LTUSD music instructors making a name for themselves
Lake Tahoe Unified School District music teachers Casson Scowcroft and Linda Kurek have been honored in recent months by their fellow Northern California music teachers.
They were each selected as conductors for regional honor bands, an honor bestowed on only the finest conductors and music educators.
Scowcroft was asked to conduct the Region 5 Junior High Select Honor Band at North Tahoe Middle School last school year. This band included 72 music students from the Quincy/Chester area to North Tahoe. Students for these bands are selected by an audition process and then they gather for two days of rehearsal and a culminating concert. Scowcroft took South Tahoe High School senior, Nick Sullivan, along to act as percussion instructor for the junior high school students.
Scowcroft and Kurek are helping South Tahoe High and South Tahoe Middle school music students prepare for taped auditions for the Northern California All State and Western United States Region Honor Bands and Orchestras.
Kurek was invited to be the guest conductor for the Western Slopes Music Educators Association 7th and 8th Grade Honor Band last month. This is the third honor band in recent years Kurek has been invited to conduct. Eighty students from numerous schools on the West Slope were selected by live auditions to participate in this event which also involved two days of rehearsals and a concert for the parents.
STMS students Josh Kornbeck (baritone sax) and Mario Mangiaracini (tuba) participated in this event also.
Both instructors will be at tonight’s school board meeting to make a presentation. Students are expected to perform, too. The meeting starts at 6.
As an admirer of our LTUSD music program I am not surprised by this well deserved honor.
Linda Kurek and Casson Scowcroft are exceptional educators. From the moment they take the podium they demand excellence from their instrumentalists, not only in their performance, but in their behavior.
If you would like to see first-hand the results of their hard work please join me in attending the Tribute to Veterans this Thursday, Nov. 10th at 7PM at STMS.
Long live the LTUSD Music Program!
In addition to Kurek and Scowcroft, LTUSD is fortunate to have even two more fantastic instrumental teachers. JJ Clause and Candace Robinson need to be acknowledged for their years of dedication to our music program. They, too, share the passion that instrumental music is vital for our students.
Finally, I believe the Veterans Concert mentioned above started years ago as a tribute to JJ’s father’s who served in the military. This performance has blossomed into an incredible evening.
Literally hundreds are in attendance to honor our Veterans. Musicians from the middle and high schools, color guard, and of course the Veterans.
As stated above, please don’t forget the real reason we have a day off on Friday, 11-11-11. I highly recommend that anyone who, like myself, is proud of the red, white and blue, please come to the fabulous performance this Thursday, 7 PM at STMS.
I guarantee, you will not be disappointed.