This year Gary Evans, our band director of 18 years, retired.
Mr. Evans is a man who has inspired me in numerous ways. His presence in my life has left a mark that’s made me who I am and he’s someone I will always carry in my heart. I’ve never known someone as original as him. Everything from the way he’d start to count off a song and would stop midway to tell us a story about playing for the ladies by the bridge or about making carrot juice every morning would make my day.
He made my days in band memorable in every way imaginable. He may never have known where anything was in the classroom, but he’s the most experienced and knowledgeable musician I’m lucky to have come across. He loved the band and took his job very seriously but never pressured us to be better than the other schools.
He knew in his heart how great we were but I’m not sure he knew how great his own heart was. He wasn’t the most open person to talk about feelings with, but he always had a way of making me know that he cared about me. He cared about all of us.
I’ve picked up several of his mannerisms from being around him so much, everything from the way he’d scratch his head to the way he answered every question “yeah, yeah, yeah.” He was so crazy. I remember the time he asked me to use the backpack vacuum during the Africa concert at the beginning of the song, just to add an extra sound to the mix. I mean, a vacuum cleaner, really? But that’s how he was. Up to the start of the concert I had no clue what he wanted me to do, but he had faith that I’d think of something. It felt so ridiculous but I love that he had me do something crazy like that.
I remember coming in as a freshman and after the first day thinking, “This man is out of his mind.” I remember all the times he’d get mad during class, or at least act mad, and it took me so long to finally be able to determine if he was seriously upset or trying to freak us out. This man could probably write his own personal dictionary of all the words he’s created original meanings for. I’ve never seen someone love music the way he does and I grew such a great respect for it from being around him.
You may think that you know the most original, unique person to live, but if you haven’t met Mr. Evans, you really don’t know what you’re missing. It’s a shame that all the new young musicians coming into the EHS band won’t get to experience what I and several others have.
I truly feel I’m blessed to have known this man, to have been touched by him in the upmost meduim: music. My two years with him will always be close at heart, as will he. I do hope to keep in contact with him, as I’m sure many others do and I wish him the best in the remainder of his life.
Gary Evans is a man who’ll always be cherished in the hearts of everyone he touched. I’m proud to say that I am one of those.
Megan Gamiz is a junior at Everett High School.
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