Orchestra members have ties to CCHS

Some members of the Original Cow Boy Band have gone back to school.
More than a half-dozen of them are spending their evenings at Clear Creek High School, where they donated their time to form the orchestra for the school musical.
The Cow Boy Band-school musical partnership has occurred occasionally over the past few decades, and the musicians are happy to help out.
Justin Yanowicz, the high school’s instrumental music teacher, conducts the adult orchestra. He says the student musicians are tied up with other projects, including performing in the musical, so he drafted the adults.
“It’s been fun to work with the adults,” Yanowicz said.
For the adults, it’s been fun to work at the school and with the students, and most have direct ties to the school in other ways.
Jeri Fredell, who plays clarinet, said the Original Cow Boy Band has performed for the high school musical a dozen times since the 1980s. Her husband, Conradt Fredell, recently retired after a 30-year career teaching biology at the school. He also is playing for the musical.
Jeri Fredell and flutist Suzanna Gould agreed that they enjoy the experience. Gould’s husband is a former CCHS student, so she said that additional attachment gives her more reason to volunteer.
Justin Elks and his wife, Amy, are the orchestra’s percussionists. While both play in the Cow Boy Band, Justin is also Clear Creek’s elementary music teacher. They consider helping out with the musical a good family activity.
Robert Smith, a Cow Boy Band member, also has another association with the school. His wife, Mary, is a school counselor.
“I love to play,” he said, “and I like to help the high school out.”

— Deb Hurley Brobst