Dunham Commissioned Piece
The Lake Band and the Band Boosters sincerely thank the Blue Streak community and the local arts community for donating to the commissioning of an original symphonic arrangement in memory of Renee, Amber, and Evan Dunham. Our fundraising goal has been met!
From Mr. Cooey 4/16/24:
On behalf of the Lake Band Program, I would like to thank you for your generous donation to the commissioned piece of music written in memory of Renee, Amber, and Evan Dunham.
We have all been overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion toward this project and look forward to seeing it come to fruition very soon.
This could not have happened without your kindness.
The Lake High School Symphonic Winds received the piece from the composer, Dr. Andrew Boysen, and has been busy rehearsing for its upcoming premiere.
We are looking forward to a meaningful time through music on May 2nd and 4th.
Dr. Boysen will be in attendance for the 5/2 concert, but not on 5/4. However, the piece will be played at both concerts.
Concert Recordings:
"Sometimes There Are Just No Words"
The concerts held on May 2nd and May 4th were recorded and are available here. The 5/4 Audio is for this song only. The 5/2 Video includes the entire concert; the song introduction is at ~32 mins, song begins at ~43 mins).
Lake Band to Honor the
Dunham Children with Music
In August of 2023, the heart of the Lake community was struck with the loss of the Dunham family. Three young children--Renee (15 years), Amber (12), and Evan (9), all part of our Lake Blue Streak band family--were taken too early from this life.
As a memorial, the Lake Band is commissioning an original symphonic arrangement. The commissioned piece will be an artistic expression to honor and commemorate the Dunham children, and will help our Lake band members’ healing process. The Lake High School Symphonic Winds will perform this new musical piece in the Spring Concert under the direction of its composer, Dr. Andrew Boysen Jr.
An award-winning composer, Dr. Boysen is a professor of music at the University of New Hampshire
and conducts the wind symphony there at UNH.
After creating the memorial composition, this spring Dr. Boysen will rehearse the piece with our
Lake High School Symphonic Winds, culminating in a May performance which he will conduct.
He will also work with our musicians at Lake Local schools.
Following the premiere, the musical piece will be available for bands
around the world to play and for future Lake performances.
(Read about the composer and hear his music at
andrewboysenjr.com
)
Historic Inception
This artistic endeavor had its inception after the Dunham’s memorial service. A brass ensemble of high school students, and band directors Mark Tryon and Jared Cooey performed several hymns before the service. Following the memorial service, multiple attendees shared how comforting the music was. Mr. Cooey reflects, “The funeral service was very difficult because everything about this is difficult. There really are no words that can make anyone feel any better. I heard someone say recently that when a spouse passes away, the other spouse becomes a widow or widower. If parents pass away, the children become orphans. There are no words for what has happened to this family. I think that's why the music at the service was so beautiful. As the saying goes, ʻwhere words fail, music speaks.ʼ”
“When the tragedy happened, I know a lot of people wanted just to DO something to help, but there wasn't anything they could do,” Mr. Cooey says. “This new commissioned piece will give them a chance to do something that can go a long way in creating something beautiful out of such terrible tragedy.”
Thank You!
Our goal has been met! The commissioned piece cost approximately $10,000 total, for the work of composing the new symphonic piece plus related expenses. Thanks to an outpouring of donations from people and businesses in our Lake community like you, our costs were more than covered! We were able to donate excess proceeds to the Lake Community Hope Scholarship Fund in Memory of Melissa, Renee, Amber and Evan; managed by the Stark Community Foundation, a 501c3.
“a chance to do something that can go a long way in creating something beautiful out of such terrible tragedy.”
