PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, AUGUST 24, 2018
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
MHS alum returns as
Celts’ band director
Nelson knew he wanted to be
By DEREK WILEY
a teacher.
Of the Keizertimes
“I remember vaguely kind
When Chris Nelson walked
into the McNary band room of imagining wouldn’t it be
for the fi rst time in more than cool to be the band director
a dozen years, hundreds of here but it was nothing more
memories rushed through his than a day dream,” Nelson said.
Nelson earned a bachelor
head.
“It is literally a trip down of music in instrumental mu-
memory lane,” said Nelson, sic education from Brigham
McNary’s new band director. “I Young University and master
imagine at some point I’ll get of arts in music performance
with an emphasis
past that and it will
in conduction from
be where I live and
Washington State.
where I work but
After college, he
when I go to the
became the band
high school, I just
director of Timpa-
picture it how I re-
nogos High School
member it.”
in Orem, Utah.
Nelson began
Nelson started the
playing in the per-
program with 50-
cussion section as
60 kids and grew
a 12-year-old at
it to 80-90 in three
Whiteaker.
years.
He picked per-
Chris Nelson
“The band pro-
cussion
because
gram was pretty
of its versatility.
Instead of being stuck to one small and the goal was to grow
instrument, he could play bass it and try to get more kids in
drum, snare drum or even bells. the group,” Nelson said. “What
In high school at McNary, he I’m really proud of is we grew
fell in love with mallet pitched in terms of quality.”
His ensembles were con-
instruments like the xylophone.
“You could play melodies sistently recognized for their
and tunes instead of just play- quality with superior ratings
ing a beat on a drum,” said at concert band, jazz band, and
Nelson, who along with being solo and ensemble festivals. The
in the marching band and jazz Timpanogos marching band
band, was also part of McNary’s was recognized with numerous
competitive indoor drumline. fi rst place fi nishes and caption
“If it was in band, I tried to do awards in their division, and
it. I was all in on band in high was named Utah’s 2016 Divi-
sion 1A State Champion. Dur-
school.”
By his senior year (2005), ing his time at Timpanogos,
wedding
Kid-centered at the Kroc
Nelson served on the School
Community Council, and re-
ceived numerous grants to de-
velop curriculum and materials
as a member of the Orem City
Band Directors collaborative
group.
Nelson had not planned on
leaving.
“We liked what we had
there,” he said. “We were really
happy. But when this job came
open I had several people push
me to take a serious look at it.”
Nelson’s parents still live in
Keizer and his in-laws are in Ti-
gard. Nelson and his wife have
three small kids, ages 5, 3 and 1.
“When they made the job
offer, we didn’t have to think
about it too long,” Nelson said.
While Nelson is open to
bringing back the competitive
drumline, he’s not looking to
make any immediate changes.
“McNary is already a very
successful band program so
there’s no reason to go in guns
blazing and changing every-
thing,” Nelson said. “That’s not
my goal. I want to come in and
see what’s making us successful.
We’re just going to continue
delivering high quality music.”
He also wants to hear from
students and parents.
“We could do more com-
petitive stuff in the future if
there’s a demand for it,” Nelson
said. “It’s really time consuming
and cost a lot of money. If the
students and the community, if
that’s something they want to
push for then I’m all for it. I
don’t want to push them unless
they want to.”
Nelson wants to continue
the McNary tradition of serv-
ing the community.
“I don’t apologize for hold-
ing them to a high standard
but I also hold myself respon-
sible for teaching them how to
achieve that standard,” Nelson
said. “I like to build personal
relationships with students. I
want them to feel like when
they come to band that there
are going to be diffi cult things
expected of them but they are
going to have all the tools to
achieve those diffi cult things.”
Along with teaching, Nelson
has also played professionally
with the Utah Wind Symphony
and the Utah Premiere Brass, a
British style brass band.
“I love playing and I think
it’s important for music teach-
ers to play and perform so I’ll
be looking for opportunities
and groups to play with,” Nel-
son said.
On August 18, 200 kids and
their families from through-
out Marion and Polk counties
gathered in the Kroc Center
in Salem for the Salvation Ar-
my’s All About Kids event. The
event distributed school sup-
plies, new clothes, and hair-
cuts to underprivileged fami-
lies from the area, a third of
whom were from Keizer. The
Salvation Army also arranged
brunch, music and outdoor
activities for the young people
and their families.
KEIZERTIMES/Casey Chaffi n
puzzle answers
Submitted
Sarra Louise Sparks and Shane Michael Beach, of Keizer, were
married on June 18, 2018, in Las Vegas at the Wynn Resort.
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