Winter Recital, courtesy of Lynda Lybeck-Robinson

The winter piano recital for students of Lynda Lybeck-Robinson took place on Sunday, December 1st, in the high school auditorium. 22 pianists performed the songs they had been rehearsing for months on a stage festively decorated with a tree and holiday ornaments. The recital began with a chorus of 'Wee Play Music' on the bells performed by five young students. 

Many students chose to play holiday or Christmas themed songs along with a few familiar classical pieces. Additionally, three students played pieces written by Lynda Lybeck-Robinson herself. Lybeck-Robinson recently received the high honor of having her music published by the Hal Leonard Corporation. Her volume, titled "Alaska Sketches," includes eight intermediate piano solos meant to capture the striking impressions and scenes of life in Alaska. The final song in the collection, "Williwaw," was selected by the National Federation on Music Competitions (NFMC) as a recommended piece for early intermediate competitions on a national level for the years 2014-2016. The volume can be purchased at online music venues internationally.

Kayla Villamor

November 18^{th –} 22^nd

The 5^th and 6^th Grade selected Kayla Villamor as Student of the Week for the following reasons:

• Kayla is a fantastic student!! She always has a smile on her face and has a great work ethic. She is a wonderful group member, always treating her classmates with respect and willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed. She consistently turns in quality work and leads her peers with a positive example. She is involved in Raider sports, as well as PCR leagues, and still is able to keep on top of her school work. I greatly appreciate her efforts in class and her bubbly personality. Keep it up, Kayla!!  –Miss Wood, 6^th Grade Teacher

UCSD High School Band, courtesy of Jeff Dickrell

Two student musicians from Unalaska's High School Band traveled to Anchorage to take part in the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) All-State Band. ASAA's All-State High School Music Festival was held in Anchorage on the weekend of November 21st-23rd. The students chosen to receive this honor were Connor McConnell on tuba and Virginia Mountain on bassoon. All-State Band is a prestigious event where students from across the state of Alaska submit audio applications of themselves performing difficult excerpts from music pieces. Judges then select the top performers for each instrument section and invite those students to come to Anchorage to create a band with the highest performing students from around the state.