LoganSchoolDistrictOrchestraProgram

Historyfrom19632016

In1957RayHaslamcametoCacheValleyasthemusicsupervisorfortheCacheCountySchoolDistrict
whereheworkedtodevelopastringprogram.InneighboringLoganSchoolDistrictEldenTorbensen
andBarbaraMillerworkedwiththefewstringstudentsonavolunteerorsmallhourlywagebasis.In
1963SuperintendentShermanG.EyrehadthevisiontorecruitMr.HaslemtotheLoganCityschools
wherehebecamethefirstconductorofthenewlyformedLoganHighOrchestraandLoganJunior
HighOrchestras.Atthattimetherewerenineorchestrastudentsinthehighschoolandseveninthe
juniorhigh.LoganHighSchoolownedonebassandonecello.Withhisenthusiasmandabilityto
motivatestudentsRayjumpstartedtheprogram.Thefollowingyear(l964)hishighschoolorchestra
auditionedtoperformatthenationalMENCconferenceinLasVegas,Nevada.Theywereselectedand
performedverysuccessfully.TheLoganSchoolDistrictorchestraprogramwasoffandrunning!Over
thenexttwelveyearshisLoganHighSymphonyOrchestrasperformedinconcerttourstoEurope,
Japan,MexicoandChinaaswellasHawaiiandseveralcitiesintheUSA.

Budgetswereverytightinthe60sbutLoganSchoolDistrictwasblessedtohaveasuperintendent
witharealvisionofeducation.Supt.Eyrewasverysupportiveoftheartsandalthoughmoneywas
scarcehesomehowfoundthemeanstoallocate$40,000forthepurchaseofneworchestra
instruments.Thatwasatremendousamountofmoneyinl963!WiththismoneyRayHaslam
purchasedexceptionallyhighqualitywooden(notplywood,asaremostschoolinstruments)violas,
cellosandbassesfromPearceMusicCompanyinSaltLakeCity.Althoughthenormallifeofaschool
stringinstrumentaveragesabouttenyears,throughgoodcareandaregularrepairbudgetmanyof
thesearestillinuseinthedistrict,morethanfortyyearslater.

WiththeretirementofSupt.Eyrein1970Dr.JamesC.Blairwasappointedsuperintendentofthe
LoganSchoolDistrict.Hewasdeterminedthateverychildshouldhaveawellroundededucationand
hefeltthatmusic,thevisualartsandathleticsshouldcomplementtheemphasisonacademics.He
becameagreatsupporteroftheartsinLoganCitySchools.

ElementaryorchestrainstructionwasbegununderMr.Haslamsdirection.Hewasinstrumentalin
buildingtheprogramtothepointwhereitbecameimpossibleforhimtoteachallfiveelementary
schools,juniorhighandhighschoolorchestras.BarbaraMillerandProf.WarrenBurtonwerehiredto
assistwithsomeoftheelementaryschoolsasparttimestaff,paidanhourlywage.Theprogram
continuedtogrowtothepointthatinl968ErleneBennionwasrecruitedtojointotheelementary
stringstaff.Foralmosttenyearssheworkedasavolunteer,receivingnocompensationfromthe
schooldistrict.WendellShepherd,principalatWilsonElementary,becameawareofthissituationand
petitionedtheschooldistrictforastipendforMrs.Bennion.Asaresultofhiseffortsshewaspaid$50
permonthforthenextfewyears.

In1975Mr.HaslambecameassistantprincipalatLoganHighSchool.BrentTaylorwashiredashis
replacement.ThefollowingyearSteveGoodmansteppedintothepositionandremainedfortwo
years.

In1978RayHaslambecametheprincipaloftheLoganJuniorHighSchool.Weowemuchofour
successtodaytohishardworkinthoseyearsfrom19631975asmusicsupervisor/conductorandalso
thoseyearsfrom19751988whilehewasasupportiveadministrator.


TedAshtoncametotheLoganSchoolDistrictinl978.Atthatpointtherewasabeginningstring
programinthe46grades,twoorchestrasatLoganJuniorHighSchoolandoneLoganHighSchool
Orchestra.Thiswasanotherperiodofrebuilding.Theenrollmentforthe7thgradeorchestrawasonly
12students(onlytwoofwhomcouldreadmusic.)Therewere35studentsinthecombined8/9
orchestra.

FormanyyearsLoganSchoolDistrictwastheonlydistrictinthestatetohavea4thgradestring
program.Mostdistrictsinthestatedroppedthe4thgradeprogrambutSupt.JamesBlairrecognized
thevalidityofsupportiveresearchandremainedfirmlybehindelementarystringprogram,inspiteof
pressuretodootherwise.

EventuallyProf.BurtonsUSUresponsibilitiesincreasedtothepointwherehecouldnolongerteach
inthepublicschools.MaryOstrow(wifeoftheUSUSymphonyOrchestraConductor,Prof.Isaac
Ostrow)washiredatthispointtoworkwithBarbaraMiller,ErleneBennionandTedAshtoninthe
elementaryschools.NegotiationsoccurredregardingwhatMrs.Ostrowssalaryshouldbe.Upon
MarysinsistenceErleneswagewasincreasedtobeequaltotheamountMrs.Ostrowwasoffered.
AftertheuntimelydeathofMaryshusbandshemovedawayfromLogan.JulieHuppiandWalter
Birkedahlthenassistedwiththelowstringinstruction.Inl983Mr.BirkedahlmovedandbothBarbara
MillerandMrs.Huppileftpubliceducation.JaniceMcAllisterwashiredtoteachparttimeatHillcrest,
EllisandWoodruffelementaryschools

Inl984LoganJuniorHighSchoolwaschangedtoMountLoganMiddleSchool,withgrades68making
LoganHighSchoola912gradeconfiguration.Numbersweregrowing,increasingTedAshtons
teachingload.TherewerenowthreeorchestrasatMt.LoganMiddleSchoolandtwoLoganHigh
Schoolorchestras,andmorehelpwasrequired.Supt.Blairwenttotheschoolboardandpetitionedto
hireacertified/salariedteachertohelpteachatthemiddleschool.JaniceMcAllisterspositionwas
changedfromanhourlywagetoasalarypositionandshewasassignedtoteamteachthe6thand7th
gradesatMt.LoganMiddleSchoolwithTedAshtoninadditiontoherelementaryresponsibilities.Mr.
Ashtonalsotaughtthe8thGradeConcertOrchestraaswellastheLoganHighSchoolorchestras.

AftertheretirementofDr.JamesC.Blair,Dr.GaryCarlstonbecameSuperintendentoftheLogan
SchoolDistrict.HewasfollowedbyDr.AllenJ.LoweandthenDr.RichardJensen.Allofthese
administrationshavegivensubstantialsupporttotheorchestraprogram.Facultyhiring,generous
fundingforinstrumentpurchase,roomrenovationandscheduleprotectionhaveallgreatlybenefited
theorchestraprogramduringtheiradministrations.

Untilaboutl985thestringinstructionatEdithBowenElementarywasnotincludedunderthe
umbrellaoftheLoganSchoolDistrictstringinstruction.Prof.RalphMateskyandsuccessiveUSU
SymphonyOrchestraconductorsassignedcollegestringstudentstoteachorchestraclassesattheLab
School,buthadverylimitedsuccess.BarbaraMilleralsotaughtthereforafewyears.DuringEyre
TurnerstenureasprincipalarealeffortwasmadetogivetheEdithBowenstudentsequal
opportunitywiththeLoganSchoolDistrictstudents.Dr.TurneraskedMrs.Benniontotakeoverthe
stringinstruction.Shebeganwiththreestudents.Whensheretiredin1990therewere65string
playersatEdithBowen.Herinfluencethere,aswellasatAdamsandWilsonElementaryschoolsthen
laterintheMt.LoganMiddleSchool6thgrade,greatlyimpactedtheentireorchestraprogramlong
afterher21yearsofteachinginthepublicschools.

Enrollmentwasincreasingsoin1988NancyLawandDebbieMonday,bothcertifiedteachers,were
hiredatparttimecontracts.DebbieMondaysprincipleresponsibilitywaswiththelowstringsinthe
6thgradeandtheelementaryschools.AsMr.AshtonsloadincreasedsheandJaniceMcAllisterbegan
teamteachingboththe6thand7thgradeorchestrasinadditiontotheirelementaryschools.Nancy
LawtaughtatseveralelementaryschoolsplusspenttimeassistingatMLMSandLHS.Overtheyears
Mrs.MondaysandMrs.Lawsresponsibilitiesbecamegreaterandtheirparttimecontractswere
somewhatincreased.

WiththegrowthinnumbersitbecamenecessarytoaddanotherorchestraclassatLoganHighSchool.
Inthel9891990schoolyearthe9thGradeConcertOrchestra,10thgradeSinfoniaand11/12thgrade
PhilharmonicOrchestraswerecreated.UnderTedAshtonsdirectiontheOldGirlsGymwas
transformedintoastateoftheartorchestraroom.

Mr.AshtoncontinuedtheexpansionoftheorchestramusiclibrariesatbothLoganHighandMt.
LoganMiddleSchoolsaswellasincreasingtheinstrumentinventory.Todayourorchestralibraries
andschoolownedinstrumentsaretheenvyofmanypublicschoolsanduniversities.

ItwasalsoduringMr.AshtonstenurethattheCacheValleystringteachersjoinedtogetherunderthe
auspicesoftheUtahChapteroftheAmericanStringTeachersAssociation(ASTA).Joiningthis
professionalorganizationprovidedteacherswithvaluableinservicetrainingandperformance
opportunitiesforstudents,plusmanyotherprofessionalbenefits.Thepublicschoolstringteachersin
theLoganschoolshavealwaysfeltrealsupportfromtheircolleagues,theprivateteachersinthe
valley.ThiscloserelationshiphasgreatlybenefitedstringeducationintheLoganSchoolDistrict.

OvertheyearstheLoganSchoolDistrictOrchestrasreputationforexcellencesteadilygrewwithinthe
stateandbeyond.In1992Mr.Ashtonwastherecipientofaprestigiousnationalhonor,the
Elizabeth
A.H.GreenSchoolEducatorAward
fromthe
AmericanStringTeachersAssociation.

Inl998TedAshtonacceptedanoffertobecomeamusicprofessoratRicksCollegeinRexburg,Idaho
andleftLoganSchoolDistrictafterdevotingtwentyremarkableyearsbuildingtheorchestraprogram.

ErikaSchultewashiredatthatpointandremainedwithLoganSchoolDistrictfortwoyears.

Inl998RobertS.Frost(prominentcomposer/arrangerofstringmusic)recognizedthattheformatfor
teachingelementarystringsinLoganDistrictwasuniqueaswellasverysuccessful.Hetooksamplesof
theirpiecestohispublisherandreceivedpermissiontocompilepiecesarrangedforLoganelementary
orchestrasandsubmititforpublication.Inl999
StringsExtraordinaire!,
byDeborahBakerMonday
andJaniceL.McAllisterwaspublishedbyKJOSPublishingCompany.Asecondbook,
Holidays
Extraordinaire!
,followedin2006and
MoreStringsExtraordinaire!
in2008.Thesebooksarebeing
widelyusedthroughoutthecountry.DebbieMondayhassincebeenacomposerandarrangerfor
anotherbook,
ArtistryinEnsembles
.Sheisawellrespectedcomposerwhohaspublishedover35
separatepieceswhicharebeingusedbyschoolorchestrasthroughoutthecountry(91in2013.)Janice
McAllistercollaboratedwithRobertS.Frostinthe
BonVoyage!Destination...Russia
and
BonVoyage!
Destination...Canada
publicationsaswellaspublishingotherseparatepiecesforstringorchestra.

In19992000theorchestraroomatMLMSwasrenovated,makingitoneofthefinestmiddleschool
orchestrafacilitiesinthecountry.

In2000KarinHendricksbecametheconductoroftheLoganHighSchoolOrchestrasandthe8thGrade
ConcertOrchestraaswellasheadofthestringdepartment.

In2004thenewBridgerElementarySchoolopened,makingatotalofsixLoganCityelementary
schools.TheinclusionoftheEdithBowenLabSchoolatUSUmakesatotalofsevenelementary
schoolsservicedbyourstringfaculty.Constructionwasfinishedontheirbeautifulnewschool(funded
bytheEmmaEcclesJonesFoundation)intimefortheopeningofthe2004/05schoolyear,complete
withawonderfullydesignedorchestraroom.

ThestringfacultyoftheLoganSchoolDistrictcontinuedtoenjoystateandnationalrecognition.Karin
HendricksandDebbieMondaywereaskedtopresentsessionsattheASTAwithNSOANational
ConferenceinReno,Nevada,Feb.2326,2005.FourstudentsfromtheLoganHighPhilharmonic
Orchestraperformedthereaswell.

TheLoganSchoolDistrictOrchestraProgramgrewfromthoseoriginalsixteenplayersinl963towell
over500stringstudentswhoparticipatedinthe2004PRISMConcertatLoganHighSchool.Itwas
onlyfittingthatDr.JamesC.BlairandRayHaslamwerehonoredatthatperformance.Itwasa
wonderfultributetotheirgreatcontributions.OnlyafewweekslaterformerSuperintendentBlair
passedaway.

InJuneof2006anadministrativechangewasmadeintheLoganSchoolDistrict.Dr.MarshalR.
Garrettwasnamedsuperintendent,replacingDr.RichardJensen.Withinashorttimehebecame
acquaintedwiththestringpersonnelandhasactivelysupportedthestringprogram.

KarinHendrickstookayearsleaveofabsenceinthe2006/7schoolyeartobeginadoctoralprogram
attheUniversityofIllinois.LillianSeverensenwasappointedtobehertemporaryreplacement,
teachingthethreehighschooland8thgradeorchestras.

In2007theUSUEdithBowenLabSchoolbecameacharterelementaryschool.Withthischangein
statustheLoganSchoolDistrictceasedtheirfinancialsupportofthe4th/5thgradeEdithBowen
OrchestraProgram.TheyarenolongerpartoftheLoganDistrictStringProgram.

KarinHendrickslefttheLoganSchoolDistricttofinishherdoctoralprogramattheUniversityofIllinois
inthefallof2008.BeckyRoesler,violinist,violist,conductorandsuccessfulLehiHighSchoolorchestra
conductor,washiredtotakeMs.HendrickspositionatLoganHighSchoolandMt.LoganMiddle
School.

Forthe2008/09schoolyearLHShadfourorchestras;the9thGradeConcertOrchestra,the10th
GradeSinfonia,the11th/12thGradePhilharmonicandthelongawaitedChamberOrchestra.This
openedupagreatopportunityforadditionalchallengeandmusicalexcellenceforseveralvery
talentedanddedicatedorchestramusicians.Thehighlightoftheyearwastheirperformanceofthe
ShostakovichQuartetinTimeofWar.AvideoslideshowofthehorrorsofWorldWarIIwithspecial
lightingeffectsaccompaniedtheremarkableperformancepresentedatLoganHighthedaybefore
MemorialDay.ThestudentbodywasvisiblymovedbythispresentationbytheChamberOrchestra.
Thehorrificfinalchordsofmusic,withscenesofbombsdestruction,lefttheaudienceemotionally
drained.Totalsilenceseemedtolastforminutes,theneruptedintogreatcheeringandapplause.

Sadly,smallerenrollmentsandthedeterioratingeconomicsituationof2009resultedinthelossofthe

LHSChamberOrchestra.Musicprogramsfacedconsolidationandevencuts.LoganDistrictmade
difficultdecisionsindealingwiththebudgetcrisis.TheorchestrapositionatLHSwasdowngradedtoa
three/fourthstimeposition,alongwiththatofthebanddirector.

2009/10BeckyRoeslertaughtthreeLHSorchestraclassesaswellas7thand8thgradeorchestras,
DebbieMondayandNancyLaweachaddedorchestraclassesaswellasaGeneralMusicclasstotheir
teachingload.Theseadditionsmadeeachofthemfulltimeemployees.JaniceMcAllisterbecamea
parttimeemployee,teachingatHillcrestandAdamsElementaryschools.

Beginningnumbersforthe2009/10yearwere:Sixelementaryschools238;Mt.LoganMiddleSchool
(fourorchestraclasses)145;LoganHigh(3orchestras)95orchestrastudents.Numbersatall
schools(especiallyatLoganHigh)wereanticipatedtoincreaseforthe2010/2011schoolyear.

2010/11BeckyRoeslerleftLoganSchoolDistricttopursueanadvanceddegree.Dr.PeggyWheeler,
aviolist/violinist,frequentmusicconventionpresenterandpublishedauthor/collaboratorofstring
techniquebooks,cametoLoganfromPotsdam,N.Y.toassumethepositionofLoganHighorchestral
conductorand7th/8thgradeorchestrateacher.LHSChamberOrchestrawasreinstatedaswell,
joiningthePhilharmonicand9thGradeConcertOrchestras.

February6,2010Deathofourdearfriendandcolleague,ErleneBennion.Shewasateacherinthe
LoganSchoolDistrictfor21years,aprivateteacherfor33years.

April7,2011Ourlongtimecolleagueandfriend,NancyLaw,succumbedtocancer.Shehaddevoted
overtwentyyearstotheLoganStringProgram.Shewasamuchlovedteacher;thislossiskeenlyfelt
byusascolleagues,studentsandparents.

2011/12Theeconomicdownturnresultedindrasticcutstotheartsnationwide.LoganSchool
Districtstruggledtomaintainthenecessarypersonnelandclassestoensurethatthelongtime
excellenceoftheLoganDistrictOrchestraprogramcouldcontinue.Private,communityandUSU
supportcombinedtobolstertheeffortsoftheSchoolDistrict,demonstratingthegreatvaluethis
communityplacesonastrongandvibrantstringprogram.PhilanthropistsManonandDanRussellcan
becreditedwithliterallysavingtheElementaryStringProgram.In2011theyprovided$55,000,tobe
funneledthroughUSU,toensurethatitcontinue.Theygaveanadditional$10,000in2012,
supplementingincreasedLoganSchoolDistrictsupport.

Duringthe2011/2012schoolyeartheElementaryOrchestraProgramwasrequiredtobetaught
totallyoutsideoftheschoolday,eitherbeforeorafterschool.Thisnecessitatedhiringseveralother
teachersinadditiontoDebbieMondayandJaniceMcAllistertocoverthesixelementaryschools
whichnowhadtobetaughtinthesametimeslots.PatrickClark,AhnalisseGubler,JordanTruex,
DeidreNewmanandRosemaryKimuraHatchwerehiredonanhourlybasisalongwithPeggyWheeler
whotaught2ndYearstudentsatWoodruff.

In2012AmandaKippenwashiredtoreplacePeggyWheeler.HerresponsibilitiesincludedtheLHS
ChamberOrchestra,LoganHighPhilharmonic,9thGradeConcertOrchestraandMLMS8thGrade
OrchestraaswellasaGeneralMusicclassatMLMS.TheChamberOrchestrawaseliminatedatLHSin
2013sothe7thGradeOrchestrawasaddedtoherschedule.(DebbieMondayteamtaughtthe
7th/8thGradewithMs.Kippenandthe6thGradeOrchestraclasseswithJaniceMcAllister.)

In2013LoganDistrictchangedschedulingatallelementaryschoolstobeginschoolatthesametime,
8:10a.m.PreviouslyHillcrestandWilsonhadbeenlatestartschools(9:10a.m.)Thismandate
removedtheprimebeforeschoolteachingtime(the8:00hour)fortheseschoolsandaddedyet
anotherseriousobstacleinorchestrascheduling.OrchestrasatEllis,HillcrestandWilsonthenhadto
holdclassesinthe7:00a.m.timeslot,
so
veryearlyforelementarystudents.Addingtothechallenge,
HillcrestElementarywasfeedingupto200studentsfreebreakfastintheauditoriumwhileorchestra
classeshadtobetaughtonthestage.Theorchestrateamincluded:DebbieMonday,Janice
McAllister,AhnalisseGubler,HyrumBaker,JordanTruex,DeidreNewmanandJulieHuppi.

November20,2013markedthedeathofDr.RaymondMarlerHaslam,fiftyyearsafterheaccepted
thepositionofOrchestraDirectorandMusicSupervisoratLoganHighSchoolandLoganJuniorHigh
Schools.TheLoganSchoolDistrictOrchestraProgramwasaconstantconcernuptotheendofhis
life.Weowesomuchtohim.ManyofthosehighqualityinstrumentsfromhisinitialPearceMusic
Companypurchasearestillbeingused.TheyremainasatestamentofhisvisionfortheLogan
OrchestraProgram.

2015DebbieMondayretiredafter27verysuccessfulyearsofteachingintheLoganSchoolDistrict
OrchestraProgram.Sheiswidelyrecognizedasacomposerandarrangerforeducationalstringmusic
(asofMay2016:110publishedpieces,5booksplusthe4thinthe
Extraordinaire!
serieswithJanice
McAllister,nowinproduction.)Theseverysuccessfulpublicationsbringnamerecognitiontothe
LoganSchoolOrchestraProgram.UponherretirementMs.Mondaybecamethecoordinatorofthe
ElementaryStringProgramhandlingliaisonwithUSU(whowasissuingpaymentsforteachers),
staffingandclass/concertandotherscheduling,arrangingconcertmusicandmanyother
administrativeduties.

HeidiParkerwashiredtofillDebbieMonday'steachingpositionatMLMSandintheelementary
schools.SharonKlinewashiredasa.5positionemployee,teachingelementaryclassesand
teamteachingthelarge6thgradeclasswithMrs.Parker.JaniceMcAllister,JulieHuppi,Diedre
Newman,JohnKnudsonandAndreaSmithcompletedtheElementaryOrchestrateachingteam.

SuperintendentMarshalGarrettretiredattheendofthe20142015schoolyearandwasreplacedby
SuperintendentFrankSchofield.

USUnowfeelstheneedtodivestitselfofanyadministrativeinvolvementwiththeLCSDElementary
StringProgram.Allfunding,teacherpaymentsandprogramadministrationwillrevertbacktothe
LoganSchoolDistrictattheendofthecurrent(2016)schoolyear.

Oneneedsonlytolookatthesuccessesandcontributionsoforchestraalumnitomeasureofthe
qualityoftheLoganDistrictOrchestraprogram.Wecanbeproudofitslongtraditionofexcellence.
ManyformerLoganHighstringstudentsarenowoutstandinggraduatestudents,pursuingadvanced
degreesinprestigiousuniversitiesthroughoutthenation.Manyteachinthepublicschoolsor
universities.Othersarewellrespectedprofessionalmusicians,workingsuccessfullyinvariousmusic
careersallacrossthenationandinothercountries.Manyaresuccessfulinotherareas;someare
physicians,architects,engineers,mathematicians,scientists,etc.Theyarecontributingmembersof
societyinwhateverdirectionstheirliveshavetaken.Theyhavebecomeparentsofnewgenerations
ofstudentswhovaluetheroleofmusicintheirlives.Theyhavebecomeactivesupportersofthearts
intheirowncommunities.AlmostunanimouslytheycredittheirorchestraexperienceintheLogan
SchoolDistrictasbeingahighlightoftheirschoolyearsandamajorfactorintheirsuccess.Thisspeaks

wellofthetrainingtheyreceivedinCacheValleyandtheLoganSchoolDistrict.