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Husky Band alums spreading some UW spirit in front of the renowned Sydney Opera House. (LtoR) T. South, L. Denney, D. Leggett, C. Bryant, K. Andrus, T. Andrus (click to enlarge) |
One of the many wonderful things about being director of the Husky Marching Band is the opportunity to build close relationships with many international students. Just last fall I shared with you that the membership of the 2014 Husky Band had students from eight different countries; however, Australia was not among them. That’s why I was shocked to find out that six recent HMB alumni have all ended up living within a few miles of each other down in Sydney—and only one of them is Aussie born and raised! I know that many of you will likely remember them, so I thought I would bring you up to date on what these HMB Aussies have been doing since moving “Down Under!”
I first met Katrina (Smith) Andrus when she was representing her native Australia as a member of the Beijing International Olympic Marching Band, which I conducted back in 2008. Based on her experience in the band, she later contacted me about the possibility of attending the UW for a quarter and being in the Husky Band. Well, to make a long story short, she did indeed come all this way and we were thrilled to have her as a member of our Husky Band family for the 2009 season. While in the Husky Band clarinet section she became smitten with the trumpet section leader and, well, read on!
Katrina is now working as a high school music teacher at Galston High School in New South Wales, and is also in her fourth year as the head director of the New South Wales Public Schools “Millennium Marching Band,” which is made up of high school-aged marching band enthusiasts from all over the continent.
Tony Andrus was in the band from 2006 to 2010 and was born and raised in Woodinville. Tony served as trumpet section leader during his senior year. While in the band, he met Katrina Smith and they were married in 2012. Tony is working as an artisan baker at Labancz in Rozelle and is also enjoying working with high school students in the NSWPS Millennium Marching Band as the musical director.
As a side note, I am thrilled to report that the Husky Band will be hosting the Millennium Marching Band this fall as Katrina and Tony are bringing their students on the band’s first American tour. They will be attending the Cal game on September 26 and will perform jointly with the Husky Band at pregame and post-game. Katrina and Tony tell me that it will be the first time many of the students have ever been to the US!
Colorado native Darcy Leggett was a member of the baritone section from 2009 to 2010, and then the cymbal section from 2011 to 2012. Darcy is currently teaching K-3 at a private school on Sydney’s east side. She also continues to teach private lessons and plays guitar for a Mums n' Bubs group. In addition she is the full time coordinator for JUNI—the Jewish Chaplaincy, at all New South Wales universities. (#dawgsdownunder)
A member of the piccolo section from 2007 to 2011, Laura Denney is in her final year of a master’s in nursing program at the University of Sydney. Laura grew up on Bainbridge Island and is looking forward to graduating in December and finding an RN position here in the Seattle area.
Australian-born Tilly South was also a member of the HMB piccolo section for the 2010 season. After moving back to Sydney, Tilly began working for an Australian federal politician and is also continuing to teach flute in Sydney after hours. She also flew all the way back here last summer to join current and former members of the band on last summer’s V-A performance tour of the Caribbean and New Orleans.
Clare (Krier) Bryant, who was a member of the HMB trumpet section from 2004 to 2007, works as an arts administrator in Sydney. In her spare time, she continues to keep her ”chops” in shape by playing cornet with the Sutherland Shire Brass Band.
Some of you alums from the late ’80s and early ’90s will likely also remember former Drum Major Stuart Nahajski. Stuart was born and raised in Australia and is probably the only foreign-born drum major the band has ever had. Stuart returned to Australia after graduating from the UW and currently resides in Perth with his wife Renae and their three children.
Many recent band alums might also be surprised to learn that before Adrienne (Frank) Sabo was a member of the HMB trombone section in the late ’70s and early ’80s, she spent her high school years in Sydney attending the Conservatorium of Music High School while her mother played cello in the Sydney Symphony. Of course, after joining the band, she met a fellow member by the name of Don Sabo and now you know the rest of the story!
According to the University Washington Alumni Association, there are currently 47 alumni living in Australia. Therefore, band alums make up an impressive 18% of the alumni population on the continent. It appears that if the UW Alumni Association is wise, they will start an official chapter in Sydney! Either that or open a branch campus.
Go Dawgs and best wishes to all of our alumni Down Under! |
