Fine Arts Boosters

Who We Are

Big Hollow Middle School's Fine Arts Boosters is a group of parents, community volunteers and teachers who work together to support our school's Fine Arts Programs by raising money through a series of fundraisers throughout the year. This fundraising allows us to provide supplies for our arts clubs, materials for theatre & speech, and music and instruments for our choir & band programs.

We meet once a month during the school year and welcome everyone to attend! Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7:00pm in the BHMS Library.

How many years have you been teaching?
13

What inspired you to become a Choir director?
My love for choral music along with my numerous performing experiences inspired me to pursue a career in teaching choir. I wanted to share that passion with my students and provide them with similar, memorable experiences.

What kind of music do you listen to on a daily basis?
Alternative

What is your favorite instrument to play?
My voice. :)

What is your favorite song?
Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles

What would students be surprised to find out about you?
That I didn't want to join choir in high school and that I definitely didn't want to become a teacher.

How do you spend your summer breaks?
With my 2 boys on adventures - pools, museums, parks, hanging out with friends, road trips

In which other teacher's class would you like to enroll, even for a day? Why?
Art. My art education was extremely limited growing up and Mrs. Paulson is awesome!

What are your "trapped on a desert island" books or movies?
Book - Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" / Movie - any of the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings movies

What's your favorite part of being a Choir director?
My absolute favorite part is connecting with the students each and every day. Choir students bring a wonderful energy into my classroom that truly brings me joy. The concerts are a blast and the students work really hard to perform their pieces, but it's really the day to day lessons and activities that are the best.

How many years have you been teaching?

17th year teaching Band

What inspired you to become a Band director?

In high school I was lucky to be a student leader in several ways, and truly enjoyed helping his classmates learn how to play their music and all the aspects of band.

What kind of music do you listen to on a daily basis?

Hamilton soundtrack, Ben Folds

What is your favorite instrument to play?

Hmmmmm......tough question for a percussionist who loves to play every instrument with his students- in college, I fell in love with timpani and marimba, which both allow such fun musicianship.

What is your favorite song?

"Wait For It", from Hamilton.

What would students be surprised to find out about you?

Not a whole lot. Over the last few years, I've been lucky to lose about 75 pounds, and learned to love working out and hitting the treadmill at my local YMCA.

How do you spend your summer breaks?

Driving to my sons' baseball games, Do It Yourself projects around our house, camping with my family and with Scouts.

In which other teacher's class would you like to enroll, even for a day? Why?

Mrs. Cullotta- listening to the projects she develops for her students is so interesting, and I'm so jealous of what they get to work on.

What are your "trapped on a desert island" books or movies?

Hitch, When Harry Met Sally!!!

What's your favorite part of being a band director?

Getting to know my students (and their families!) over multiple years, and watching them grow up into young adults, warms my heart so much!

What are your hopes for the future (career, bucket list, etc.)?
I wish to go to a respectable college, and I hope to have a job with a good salary. I also would like to own a 5 and 3 quarter pound male chicken named Jerome.

Why do you love the arts?
Getting to mess around within the limits of the role I have been cast in.

What is your favorite genre, band/artist, play, musical, poem, book, etc?
My favorite book is called “Salems Lot” and my favorite poem is called “Wisps of the Chicken”

What is your favorite memory from your time in the arts program at Big Hollow Middle School?
Spending time with friends and messing around.

What are your hopes for the future (career, bucket list, etc.)?
I hope to visit Paris someday and travel around the world. I was thinking about being a veterinarian, marine biologist, or even pursuing a music career!

Why do you love the arts?
I love the arts because it lets me express myself. The arts program has always helped me through hard times, and it has always brightened my day. Without the arts, I don’t know what place I would currently be in.

What is your favorite genre, band/artist, play, musical, poem, book, etc?
I love a band called Lovejoy, such an amazing band! And my two favorite musicals are Sweeney Todd, and Hamilton!

What is your favorite memory from your time in the arts program at Big Hollow Middle School?
My favorite memory is closing night of our production of High School Musical Jr. We are all very close and it was such a special moment to share with my friends and be able to be involved in all of these activities with them! I’m very grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given throughout all of my years in the arts program!

What are your hopes for the future (career, bucket list, etc.)?
I want to go to college to study astronomy.

Why do you love the arts?
It is a good way to express myself and hang out with friends.

What is your favorite genre, band/artist, play, musical, poem, book, etc?
Favorite Artist: The Weeknd

What is your favorite memory from your time in the arts program at Big Hollow Middle School?
The Audition Choir Trip to U of I for ACDA because I got to go with my friends and sing with the Honors Choir.

What are your hopes for the future (career, bucket list, etc.)?
I want to go to college to study music and become a band teacher.

Why do you love the arts?
I love the arts because I get to be with all my friends and it makes me feel at home.

What is your favorite genre, band/artist, play, musical, poem, book, etc?
My favorite band is Coldplay and my favorite artist is Taylor Swift

What is your favorite memory from your time in the arts program at Big Hollow Middle School?
My favorite memory of Big Hollow fine arts was preforming High School Musical Jr. because it was my final musical in middle school and I made a ton of new friends.

What are your hopes for the future (career, bucket list, etc.)?
I want to become an anesthesiologist or a nurse. I want to watch Hamilton one day and continue participating in the Fine Arts during High School.

Why do you love the arts?
Because they allow me to be myself and grow in my talents through the arts.

What is your favorite genre, band/artist, play, musical, poem, book, etc?
Hamilton; The Hunger Games Series books

What is your favorite memory from your time in the arts program at Big Hollow Middle School?
Enjoy every activity along my friends and making new ones.

What are your hopes for the future (career, bucket list, etc.)?
Aerospace engineer. No bucket list.

Why do you love the arts?
Good way to express yourself and it’s fun.

What is your favorite genre, band/artist, play, musical, poem, book, etc?
Band - Weezer. Musical - Dear Evan Hansen. Tv Show - Brooklyn 99.

What is your favorite memory from your time in the arts program at Big Hollow Middle School?
Doing High School Musical when my microphone fell off and I had to adjust my choreography.