VCSE-Alumni News
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spring 2019 VCS E-Alumni News www.victorschools.org Visual and Performing Arts Hall of Fame Recipients Selected The Visual and Performing Arts Hall of Fame was Please join us in welcoming three of this year’s four created to celebrate and honor the accomplishments recipients (Bill Kelliher is unable to attend this year.) of outstanding alumni, staff and community members into the Visual and Performing Arts Hall of Fame at who have excelled in the arts. It was also established to a special induction ceremony on Thursday, May 9th inspire current students to make contributions to the at 6:45 PM in the Victor Early Childhood School arts by reconnecting those selected for the hall of fame Boardroom. with our students, staff and community. David Grant Wright Bill Kelliher Tim Wheeler Andy Martinek ~ 1979 Senior Photo ~ 1989 Senior Photo ~ 1991 Senior Photo ~ 2005 Senior Photo Performer Performer Performer David Grant Wright/ Bill Kelliher/Music Tim Wheeler/Music Theater Musician, Bill Kelliher, graduated Tim Wheeler graduated from VCS Actor, David Grant Wright from Victor Senior High School in in 1991. His music contributions graduated from Victor Senior 1989. Today, he is best known as the to VCS and the community are High School in1979. He was never rhythm guitarist for the Grammy undeniable. As an 8th grader he involved in the arts at VCS, instead award winning heavy metal band, was asked to participate in the his world was his stage and he took Mastodon. During the 1990s he was High School Marching Band. full advantage of it participating a major contributor to the Rochester In addition to his marching life, in everything from soccer, baseball music scene performing in bands Wheeler excelled throughout High and the swim team, to student such as Butterlax and Lethargy. School in the Concert Band and council and the National Honor In 1999, Kelliher moved to Atlanta, Jazz Ensemble where he was lead Society. It wasn’t until his junior Georgia with fellow Rochesterian, trumpet for several years. He year at Michigan State University Brann Dailor, where they met also participated in numerous All when he was cast as Lysander in A guitarist Brent Hinds and bassist County and Area All State festivals. Midsummer Night’s Dream that Troy Sanders at a rock show. Soon In addition, he played Taps each Wright caught the acting bug. after, they began playing together Memorial Day from 8th grade to After graduating with an and formed the heavy metal band, senior year in support of the local MFA in Acting from Michigan Mastodon. The group’s first full- legion post, and was the recipient State University, Wright’s acting length album, Remission, was released of the John Phillip Sousa award his career took flight. He has been a in 2002. In 2004, the band took off senior year. professional actor for more than with their album, Leviathan, a metal In 1985, Wheeler was recruited 30 years, appearing in 27 films, album based on Herman Melville’s by his Elementary School trumpet 43 plays, 150 television shows popular book, Moby Dick. In 2007, teacher Timothy Stohs, to join the and over 100 commercials. Most Kelliher and bandmate, Brett Hinds Rochester Patriots Drum and Bugle recently, he appeared in the films, won the Metal Hammer Golden Corps. At just 12 years old, he was Outlaw Project, 50 to1, Taken Away, Gods award for best shredders, one of the youngest members of the Masterless, Skin in the Game, and Mastodon’s first ever award. Patriots when he joined. End of Sentence and television shows, In 2017, they won a Grammy In July, 1990, after his junior year Scorpion, Angie Tribeca, Better Call for the Best Metal Performance for of high school, Wheeler traveled to Saul, Fear the Walking Dead, Crazy their song, Sultan’s Curse. That year, Washington, D.C. to audition for Ex-Girlfriend, Scandal, Flaked, The they were also nominated for Best “The Commandant’s Own,” the Last Tycoon, NCIS (LA), Here and Rock Album. Mastodon is a five United States Marine Drum and Now and Lucifer. time Grammy nominee. Bugle Corps, the only full-time A 25 year cancer survivor, Wright Music isn’t all Kelliher has found active duty drum and bugle corps has raised thousands of dollars for success in. In season five of the in the United States Armed Forces. Wright . continued on page 4 Kelliher . continued on page 4 Wheeler . continued on page 4 vcs spring 2019 e-alumni newsletter • 2 Visual & Performing Arts Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Performer Any Martinek/Music Thursday, May 9th When Intermediate School Early Childhood School Boardroom music teacher Nancy Burt-Preece nominated 2005 graduate Andy 6:45 ~ Reception Martinek for the Visual and 7:15 ~ Board Presentation Performing Arts Hall of Fame, she said she was always impressed by how passionate he was about jazz. Family and friends of all of our new inductees “I remember talking to him about the number of hours he practiced to are welcomed to attend! hone his incredible skill at playing drum set. He took private lessons with a jazz educator at Eastman and Candidates for the Visual and Performing spent countless hours listening to jazz and watching jazz greats play Arts Hall of Fame can be nominated in the set.” one of four categories: Martinek was immersed in Creators - school music from the fourth Individuals and/or groups of Victor Senior grade on. From multiple bands High School alumni who graduated a minimum of ten and choirs to the field and jazz (10) years ago. bands and pit orchestras Martinek Performers - Individuals and/or groups of Victor Senior put his all into every ensemble he High School alumni who graduated a minimum of ten was part of. During high school (10) years ago. he was also invited to play in the Practitioners - Staff and community members who Eastman Youth Jazz ensemble and have made significant and extraordinary contributions participated in The Patriot Drum to the Victor Central Schools’ Arts programming for a Corps that played in the Citrus minimum of five (5) years. Bowl. During his senior year, he was awarded the Louis Armstrong Contributors - Individuals who have made a significant Award. His nominator, High School impact on Victor Central Schools’ Arts programming, band teacher Eric Everhart, called administration, and/or on regional, state, national, pro- him one of the best musicians to fessional, or international levels. This honorary category ever graduate from Victor. may include, but is not limited to, VCS staff and local Martinek’s strong music roots community supporters. continued to grow after VCS. From For more information, Martinek . continued on page 5 please contact the Office of School and Community Relations at 924-3252, ext. 1407. vcs spring 2019 e-alumni newsletter • 3 Visual and Performing Arts Hall of Fame Recipients Selected, continued Wright . continued from page 2 Kelliher . continued from page 2 Wheeler . continued from page 2 the care and comfort of cancer popular television show, Game of After an intense and exhaustive patients through his acclaimed Thrones, Kelliher and several of his audition, he was selected on the one-man show, With Flying Colors. bandmates appeared as “wildings” spot to perform as a Soprano Bugler Wright’s nominator, former VCS in episode eight. The band’s original in “The Commandant’s Own” English teacher and soccer coach, song, White Walker is also featured and subsequently enlisted in the Timothy Smith, said David’s on the Game of Thrones mixtape Marines. professional career speaks for Catch the Throne Vol. .2 When he is During his time in the Marine itself. “David was one of the most not performing, Kelliher provides Corps, Wheeler performed for enjoyable kids I ever had the master classes to aspiring guitarists countless foreign and national pleasure to coach. His effort and before concerts. dignitaries and Heads-of-State. work ethic were always outstanding VCS English teacher and alumnus In addition to providing musical and he always put team before self,” Joe Carey (’88) and his wife Marsha support for both of President Smith said. (Loopman) Carey, who graduated William J. Clinton’s inaugurations Grant once said that VCS with Kelliher in 1989, nominated in 1993 and 1997, he also provided him with “an absolute the Mastodon musician. performed for President George H. first class education,” one that fully “When the news of a new W. Bush in 1992 and for President prepared him for Michigan State Visual and Performing Arts Hall Ronald Reagan’s Intrepid Freedom University and his high profile of Fame was announced, Marsha Award reception in 1993 aboard acting career. and I immediately thought of the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air, and Bill Kelliher. I remember Bill for Space Museum in New York City. showcasing the true spirit of the Additionally, as part of a Joint artist. He never fell into that need Service Operation in 1993, he for, especially in high school, joined Army, Air Force, and Navy conformity. He was one who musicians to provide the music for was certainly true to himself and General Colin Powell’s retirement that was always on full display; from the US Army. particularly in his wardrobe In 1996, Wheeler was a featured and hairstyle choices! Marsha soloist at the Imperial Palace in remembers his love for the guitar Tokyo, Japan in support of the and music, which has so obviously Nippon Music Festival, held served him well. As to the deserved inside the Nippon Budokan arena. merits of a Hall of Famer, his During this tour, he also performed professional accomplishments and in the Mount Fuji International accolades all speak for themselves.