MHMS Instrumental Music Boosters Association
Merrol Hyde Magnet School
Brad Schreiner, Principal
Betsy Hunter, Assistant Principal
Alan M. Clark, Director of Instrumental Music
2009 Senior Class
Congratulations to our graduating seniors! We wish them well!
 Stevi Clark |  Jake Jones |
 Christian Massie | 
In Hee Hong |
 Christian Massie, Stevi Clark, Jake Jones, (not pictured) In Hee Hong |
 Most Valuable Students Jake Jones and Stevi Clark with Director Alan Clark |
Random Ruminations from the Director
What a year this has been!
- The school year began with the MHMS String Ensemble being asked to perform (again!) at the Hermitage in August for the unveiling of the Andrew Jackson dollar coin by the United States Mint. This performance was in front of some three thousand school age students from the Nashville area.
- This was followed by our annual Patriot Day Concert on September 11, where our Instrumental Music Department salutes our citizen heroes, as well as honors the memory of those who gave their lives that infamous day in 1991. November 11 marked our Veterans’ Day Concert, where we musically celebrate those who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces. This concert is especially pertinent to many, and there are always emotional moments punctuated by tears of appreciation by many of us.
- November 22 marked an historic day, as we had our first student at MHMS to audition for and make the All Middle Tennessee Jazz Band. Ian Pestrak, alto saxophone, made first chair! Our fall fundraiser, the IMBA pecan sale, profited our department over six thousand dollars! December 4 was the date for our annual Christmas Concert, and the students in all performing groups proved yet again they are the most talented musicians at MHMS. I have always been a strong believer in the need for music to exist simply for music’s sake. We perform music that exists for the sake of music; without any other external distractions, it is simply music in its highest form. In my opinion, it is the highest form of the performing arts.
- December 6 and 13 were the dates for All Midstate Band and Orchestra auditions, and we had major successes again! Tucker Cowden and Ian Pestrak made All Midstate Band, Brionna Grubbs was selected as an alternate, and All Midstate Orchestra personnel chosen were Timothy Choi and Ruth Choi. Ruth Choi scored so high (As a sophomore) she represents MHMS at All State Orchestra this year. Ruth Choi was also selected to attend the Governor’s School for the Arts.
- January 27 was the (first) date of auditions for All Sumner County Band, and MHMS was again well represented, as Ian Pestrak, Tucker Cowden, Caroline Sadler, Clayton Hurdle, Christopher Hurdle, Andrea Steiner and Brionna Grubbs were selected to join this prestigious organization.
- February 6 marked a new beginning for our department, as we provided a pep band for the varsity basketball games. This event proved to be a lot of fun for all involved, even if we were crowded into a VERY limited space for a VERY long time!
- February 13 was our annual Sweetheart Concert by the String Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, and we enjoyed the celebration of acknowledging several couples’ accomplishments over the years. Three couples had been married over 50 years each.
- March 14 was the Solo and Ensemble Festival held annually at Gallatin High School. While we did not have a large number of attendees, ALL of those who went received ratings of “Superior”, the highest grade possible. Those who attended were Amy Fottrell, Brionna Grubbs and Ian Pestrak. Amy Fottrell received TWO “Superior” ratings!
- March 19 was the beginning of our IMBA online auction, and its results are outstanding. Even with the economic climate of today, we profited over six thousand dollars! March 20 was the (early) day where MHMS was featured as the Channel 4 “cool school” for the week.
- April 16 was the Spring Concert where all performing groups were featured. I am excited to have this final “formal” concert completed, and it was, as always, one to remember. We performed music at difficulty levels not before attempted at MHMS, and one piece (Voodoo) has been a conversation piece still drawing rave comments.
- As the school year draws closer to the end, I am excited to let you know that our plans are for the 2008-09 seniors to be graduating from the new MHMS gymnasium. Performing at graduation will be, as always, the String Ensemble and the combined 8th grade/high school Symphonic Band. May 16, 2009 will be the date, and I hope to see all of you there! This year’s graduation will be especially meaningful to me, as I watch my own daughter, Stevi, leave MHMS with a high GPA and a Presidential Scholarship to David Lipscomb University in August. I am sure there will be tears galore, and I thank all of you for your continuing support to our talented instrumental musicians.
Next year promises to be another successful venture into the performing arts, as plans are in the works to include 5th graders in the band program at some point in the school year. This would be a huge addition to our program, and it should help ensure our students will feel encouraged to continue their instrumental music pursuit of excellence throughout their high school years, and I hope to see some of them even extend that musical pursuit into their college years.
I will be updating periodically, and I wish to each and every one of you a safe and happy summer season!