Music: It Shapes the Whole Student

At Eastside Catholic School, music is a formative experience that builds confidence, fosters connection and supports the development of the whole student. Through band, choir and orchestra, students in grades 6–12 engage in programs that emphasize belonging, collaboration, and excellence—within a community that values the arts as an essential part of student life.

Reprinted from EC Magazine, Winter 2026

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Band: Music That Strengthens the Mind and Sprit

As part of EC’s comprehensive music opportunities, Eastside Catholic’s band program offers a rigorous, faith-centered musical experience grounded in excellence and collaboration. Led by Director of Bands Jonathan Boysen, students build technical skills, confidence and discipline through regular rehearsal and performance—developing a lasting appreciation for music along the way.

Band is a core part of the middle school curriculum, beginning in sixth grade, with a combined instrumental and vocal music class that introduces foundational musicianship. As students move into high school, they refine their skills through advanced ensembles and expanded performance opportunities, balancing music with academics, athletics, and leadership commitments.

EC band students regularly represent the school at regional events and festivals, performing at the University of Washington’s Husky Band Day and earning top honors at competitions like the Music in the Parks Silverwood Festival, including Superior ratings and Best Jazz Band awards. Beyond performance, band offers profound cognitive benefits.

Band Director Boysen shared, “One of the greatest things that people can do for their brains is play an instrument. When you play an instrument, you must do seven different things at once. You have to hold the instrument, remember where the fi ngers go and when, breathe at the appropriate time, read the notes (and put them together with the fi ngers), read the rhythms making sure you are playing the notes for the correct amount of time, watch the conductor and listen to everyone else around you to make sure that you are playing together.”

Boysen added, “Neuroscience has been doing a lot of research on this as well. In their studies, neuroscientists saw that when playing an instrument, multiple areas of the brain light up simultaneously, processing different information in intricate, interrelated, and very fast sequences. Playing a musical instrument engages practically every area of the brain at once. This allows musicians to solve problems more effectively and creatively, in both academic and social settings.”

Choir: A Student-Centered Vision

Eastside Catholic’s choir program is led by Hannah Marsh-Makumpa, whose approach centers on growth, accessibility and long-term community. In her first year at EC, Hannah embraced a rare and powerful opportunity: teaching choir to students from sixth grade through high school. “What’s really special about EC is that I get to grow students from sixth grade all the way up,” Marsh-Makumpa said. “That continuity is something you don’t typically get anywhere else.”

“Voice is vulnerable. So, when kids find confidence in their voices, they learn something about themselves."

At the heart of her philosophy is the belief that choir is for everyone. Students arrive with a wide range of experience—from those who have never read sheet music to seasoned singers—and each is encouraged to take the next step forward.

“If they’ve never seen sheet music before, by the end of the quarter I want them to know what a treble clef is,” she explained. “It’s about moving forward from wherever you start.”

Choir also provides a space for confidence-building and connection during a busy school day. Because the voice is the instrument, students learn courage, empathy and teamwork alongside musical technique.

“Voice is vulnerable,” Marsh-Makumpa said. “So, when kids find confidence in their voices, they learn something about themselves.

In a time when arts programs are being reduced nationwide, Marsh-Makumpa is especially grateful for EC’s commitment to music education.

“Budget cuts are real. Choir and band programs are disappearing in so many places,” she noted, “that makes EC’s support for the performing arts even more important.”

Woven into school traditions, community events and admissions experiences, EC’s choir program continues to grow. Marsh-Makumpa’s goal is simple and powerful: bring more students into the room and let music do the rest.

“Once they’re here,” she said, “they can see the impact music has on their lives.”

Orchestra: Advanced Ensemble and Orchestral Study

Eastside Catholic’s String Orchestra offers students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to study advanced small-group ensemble and orchestral music in a focused, collaborative setting. Directed by David Yackley—whose arrangements have been performed by major orchestras across the country—the program is open to any student who plays a stringed instrument.

“Traditionally, the string orchestra has consisted of violins, violas, and celli, and we were excited to add bass and harp this year, which gives an added dimension to our sound,” explained Yackley.

As a smaller ensemble within the Performing Arts Department, the orchestra benefits from a high degree of flexibility. “While we are a smaller component of the Performing Arts Department, it gives us the flexibility to develop our musicianship in unique ways—eclectic repertoire, more solo opportunities, and even improvisation, which is quite unusual for orchestral players at the high school level,” Yackley shared.

“One of the greatest things that people can do for their brains is play an instrument."

Orchestra challenges through advanced instrumental technique, music reading and comprehension, independent musicianship, style interpretation and critical thinking. Students perform both in small-group ensemble projects and as a full orchestra, with appearances at local festivals, competitions and programs featuring both classical and popular music. Programs feature a blend of classical and popular works, encouraging versatility and artistic growth.

Together, EC’s choir, band and orchestra programs reflect a shared commitment to developing the whole student. Through music, students build confidence, discipline and connection—skills that resonate long after the final note.

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Read about Eastside Catholic's music programs in the EC Magazine Winter 2026 issue.