YOUR AD HERE »

My Turn: Measure A is crucial for local students

Andrew Hill
Special to the Sun

TRUCKEE/TAHOE, Calif. and#8212; Since the fall of 2007, the music curriculum and the AP classes at North Tahoe High School have benefited my life. My name is Andrew Hill, and in the fall of 2011, I will be attending either the University of Southern California, the Colburn School of Music, San Jose State University (Music Scholarship), San Francisco State University (Accepted) or Chico State University (Accepted) and studying Music Education/Trombone Performance (bass emphasis). If Measure A did not exist, I would not be prepared to enter college and pursue a career.

Since I joined the North Tahoe High School band program, I began to grow and develop musical skills and knowledge. Through the excellent work of Mr. Nordby and the wonderful equipment that was funded through Measure A, I was able to discover three new instruments at my time at North Tahoe. In my sophomore year, I entered the Jazz Band playing trombone 4 or the bass trombone part. The instrument presented more skills to learn than tenor trombone. As I developed musically on the instrument, I auditioned and was selected for honor groups such as the California All State Concert Band in 2010 and the California All State Jazz Band coming up in February, 2011.

The funding of Measure A to the band program had provided the opportunity to play this very special instrument costing upward of $3,000. During my sophomore and junior year, I also had the chance to play new instruments in the Symphonic Band. I began playing the baritone to learn how to play a valve instrument. Currently in my senior year, I now play the 4 valve Yamaha tuba in the Wind Ensemble. These two very expensive instruments were an amazing asset to my musicianship and playability. Without the help of Measure A, the North Tahoe Band program could not offer these incredible opportunities for growing high school musicians.



In my junior and senior year, I had the wonderful opportunity to take three AP Classes at North Tahoe High School. Through the incredible work of Ms. Jurosky and Mrs. Mooney, I gained life-long knowledge to pursue my dreams in college. During Ms. Juroskyand#8217;s U.S. History and currently political government classes, I have learned the different situations in countries all over the world and gained a better sense of where we stand in the scheme of things. With the wonderful help of Mrs. Mooneyand#8217;s AP English Literature and Composition class, I will now go into college feeling pretty confident about my literacy, and writing skills. If the funding of Measure A was cut, Ms. Jurosky would not have a job and Mrs. Mooney could not teach the AP Literature class.

This funding source is crucial to the culture and educational growth of North Lake Tahoeand#8217;s students. With the immense support of Measure A, I was able to discover my true calling in life, music, learn spectacular things about English and History, and discover my true passion for playing music and#8212; bass trombone.



Andrew Hill is a senior at North Tahoe High School.


Support Local Journalism

 

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.