ALUMNI NEWS
ALUMNI NEWS
Attention Alumni of TCHS Band!
We want to hear from you! Let us know where your
music has taken you**. Please be sure to note your name,
years in TCHS Band (ex: 1997-2001), and instrument played.
You can also send notes of encouragement and
support to the members of the band.
Would you like to be included in information regarding
TCHS Band? Please sign up for the newsletter on the left.
**Be sure any comments are tasteful and appropriate.
Your comment will be posted after review by the webmaster
and edited if need be.
ALUMNI RESPONSES
Richard Culver, 1986-1990, Euphonium
My name is Richard Culver from the Class of 1990 and a Clardy Army member from opening in 1986 to 1990. Like Mr. Lang I was a first-on-the-field student as the only euphonium player marching when we opened the inaugural season. Then we marched with the 4-valve concert euphoniums. (Not so bad as you could put the 4th valve slide in the cummerbund for extra support.) After marching season of ’86, I moved to tuba for the concert band. Over the four years I played euphonium, tuba, string bass, and electric bass, was the Co-Equipment Lieutenant, and part of the jazz program. Sadly enough in my senior year, I had surgery on a pinched nerve which was the beginning of hand problems which eventually ended my music career, at least for long enough to never take it up more than recreationally later. I finally recovered after a number surgeries and managed to play both bass and drums in a few short lived cover bands while raising my first child. I still keep track of the band and see other former members every now and then. The band program holds some of my fondest memories from that time in my life, among them the pride of going 7th in state after a mere 2 ½ years of existence as a school.
My life currently involves my wife and three children. I was a stay-at-home dad for a while with my youngest, a daughter named Catharine after my mother. Almost 20 years out I am still trying to finish college for my education degree in Social Studies. Meanwhile I am currently a special needs aide at Lakeview Middle School and returned to The Colony to raise my kids. Any “lost friends/old timers” are welcome to write me at rbculver@sbcglobal.net.
Richard Culver
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Jamie Lang, 1986-1990, Trumpet
Wow, it’s been a few years…..my name is Jamie (James) Lang and I was on the field for the first show in 1986…..’One Voice’ by Barry Manilow still makes me smile. I played the trumpet from 1986-1990, held a variety of leadership roles including Band Captain in ’90 and earned All-State honors that same year. I live in Chicago now with my wife and two sons and am in charge of all economic development projects for the town of Wheeling, IL. I continued my music career at Northwestern State University in Louisiana from 1990-1994 and played briefly during my years in the United States Air Force but now just enjoy listening to good music. I haven’t seen a performance in many years but can tell you that the program is still one of the best in the country. Thanks for putting the site together. If any other ‘old-timers’ want to contact me my e-mail is jlang@wheelingil.gov. Keep up the traditions.
James C. Lang
TCHS Trumpet, 1986-1990
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Derek Ream, 2004-2007, Bass Trombone
Dear band, it has been fun being able to play with you guys. I know there
have been a lot of changes in the band program, but obviously these changes
have been good in the recent past. Congratulations on the results from
Area, and State, I see in the near future that TCHS will come back to what
it has been known for in the 5A world, along with the new achievements in
the 4A world of band competition. I know many of you if not all do not have
any intentions of going into music professionally, but it is something to
look into. You may not get paid as much as you would if you were a lawyer,
or a Doctor, or some top notch engineer, but it is always fun to be able to
play music and get paid for what you love to do. Do what you love to do as
well, if music is not in your calling, keep it with you in your life, don’t
let all these years in band go down the drain. I will be living in Boston
Massachusetts for the next 4 years of my life. I can say that I will be
calling the northeast my new home for a good long time. I can’t stand the
temperature down south. If you guys ever need a ride in Boston, or want to
come up to Boston for whatever, you contact me, and I can get you some good
deals up here. The concerts that New England Conservatory will be having
are fantastic. If any of you future music majors want to come up to
audition, you guys can always stay with me while you are up here, and get
some free Boston Symphony tickets. Have fun people, and good luck!
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Hi, my name is Christina Verdugo- formerly named Christina Estonactoc.
I was a clarinetist from the years 1999 to 2003. I am now a military
musician in the Marine Corps with 1 1/2 years left to go and I still want
to re-enlist. I was wondering what my old high school band was up to
and I came across the band website and decided to let you know about
one of the alumni of the band. If there is anyone interested in joining
the military through music, definitely let me know. I don't know how I
could talk to them about other services but I can definitely let them
know how to go about it in the Marine Corps. It's definitely a big change
from high school straight to being a military musician. The maturity grows
vastly and unlike high school- if I, let's just say, am not doing my job-
there's military punishment for that through the Uniform Code of Military
Justice (aka UCMJ) and there are rules and regulations as well as customs
and courtesies in the military. I could go on about this stuff! I love my job
and my job came happiness. I'm happily married and I have a 10 month old son.
I come to visit The Colony from December 23rd to the 26th. Anyone who'd like to
talk about military jazz with me is more than welcome to visit me. I
welcome anyone in my home. Feel free to contact me through phone.
My cell #: 2146815528. My wk # is: 619-524-1754. If calling at work
about this, please let the person taking the phone call that it is regarding
recruiting and that you are calling from the high school band booster club.
Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Christina Estonactoc Verdugo
CPL USMC
Marine Band San Diego
619-524-1754
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My name is Jennifer Willoughby, soon to be Jennifer Grubbs. I was a
French Horn player in TCHS band from 1999-2003. I was a drill tech for
TCHS for the 2003, and 2004 marching seasons. I am still playing my
horn at Houston Baptist University where I am pursuing a BSN degree in
Nursing. I am a member of both the concert, and the pep band here. I
really miss marching though, and I especially miss football season. Our
school does not have a football team, so we play for our basketball team.
Playing on the court is just not the same as marching in front of thousands of people.
I am also a member of the Houston Symphonic Band. It's a community band
in Houston made up of primarily band directors, as well as many other
professions. Check us out at www.houstonsymphonicband.com and if you
get a chance, come visit HBU. We have a wonderful music program here,
and I'd love to give anyone a tour. I can be contacted at willoughbyjj@hbu.edu or at
214-334-9820. I look forward to seeing the band at a football game this
year. We've come a long way. Keep up the good work!