Wasilla High School band enters national contest to win $100,000 and celebrates historic year filled with success stories

WASILLA — The Wasilla High School band recently gathered for an end of the year banquet to celebrate all their efforts, give out awards, eat, and reflect on all the progress everyone has made.

“We’ve really had a big growth in attitude this year which is fantastic,” Johnson said.

Jackie Johnson, the band director, said there are 75 members of the band. They recently entered a video submission for the chance to win $100,000 for new equipment and uniforms from the Manilow Music Project, a national contest created by singer Barry Manilow as a response to budget cuts in public schools.

Participating schools across the U.S. entered video to tell their stories and explain why they are in need of new equipment. Johnson said the need is certainly there at WHS. She said they are in dire need of new instruments and they haven’t had a new one in at least 20 years.

“The equipment is holding them back, which is a shame,” Johnson said.

The video was created by WHS junior and trumpet player Greg DeArmond, who spearheaded the project, shooting and editing the video. DeArmond said that he thought it would be a great opportunity to help the band and hone his filmmaking skills. The video details the fact that most of the instruments are in shoddy shape and flat out missing instruments and materials.

“When I realized how much there was for this, how much people care I got really amped up about it,” DeArmond said.

DeArmond said that he handled most of the video, investing over two weeks filming and editing. He also had some help from a few students like sophomore trombone player Brian Nagl along the way.

Nagle said that his fondness for music has only grown over the years and loves being a part of a collective sound, the high school harmony.

“We get to class and we play together and it sounds so good. It gets me pumped up,” Nagl said.

With or without new equipment, Johnson and her ever growing band are ready to march on. This is Johnson’s first year as the band director, coming in to the aftermath of rocky years that limited the band’s scope and overall morale. She’s made it her personal mission to build up the band program and rekindle the spirit of unity.

“Our marching band is already going to be much bigger next year,” Johnson said.

Johnson brought back the school’s drum line and created the marching band, ushering in a new era. The marching band was christened when students performed at the 2018 Colony High School Marching Band Invitational, playing in succession with Colony, Palmer and Houston marching bands at the CHS football field. It was a historic night for the Valley and Johnson is determined to keep the momentum going.

“We branched out this year and done volleyball games and we just a baseball game which is kind of unheard of… We’re trying to be way more visible in the school,” Johnson said.

Inside the school’s cafeteria, family and friends filled rows of tables with a pot luck in the corner. There were many awards given that night, both in house and national. There were casual awards made and distributed by the students which were mostly inside jokes that recalled an origin story with ensuing laughter.

Then came the more serious and heartfelt awards given by Johnson. She credited students for a number of feats like the most improved freshman. She said there were so many achievements and milestones this year, more than there has been in a long time.

“Fortunately, we have lots to celebrate,” Johnson said.

It was clear the students were invested in the band with their jovial laughing, filling the crowd in on their inside jokes paired with the numerous stories of success, improvement, dedication and sheet joy of playing music.

“There’s great research correlating music and scholastic aptitude so those are wonderful things,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that she was so grateful to see the sparks of inspiration fly around as the students come out of their shells, pitch in where they’re needed and take initiative and pride in the band. She said they gained 10 students in between semesters.

“That’s the best thing you can ever ask for,” Johnson said.

Looking back at her first year, seeing the flood of student interest and vigorous growth made her emotional and tears filled her eyes. She shared what this job means to her.

“Music is a gift that everybody loves and so if you have the ability, share it. If you don’t have that ability, I’ll teach it,” Johnson said with a laugh, wiping her eyes.

WHS senior and percussion player Emily Badger said that she had the bittersweet pleasure of ending her high school band career on a high note.

“Senior year is definitely my favorite year out of high school,” Badger said.

Badger has been playing music for nine years. She said the WHS band has improved a lot since she was a freshman, especially this last year under Johnson’s new, passionate leadership.

“It’s in good hands. Miss Johnson’s trying to make the best of what we’ve got… She brought back out drum line that’s been gone for five, six years now and she’s bringing marching band so Colony’s not the only one anymore. It’s definitely a lot better than it’s been and it’s going to get a lot better in the years to come,” Badger said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com