One of my great joys is meeting and talking with our Kingston High School featured artists. They are so clear about their passions, their plans, their art.

Meet Chris O’Morchoe, Fine Arts Boosters (FAB) featured artist for February. O’Morchoe is a senior, a drummer and the percussion section leader in the Kingston High Band. He began drumming at age 7 and chose to be in the first class at Kingston High because he could be involved in shaping the music program and help pave a good path for future musicians. That’s exactly what has happened.

The marching, concert and jazz bands, solo and percussion ensembles “enable me to express myself as in no other way,” O’Morchoe said. His “garage band” plays “all sorts of music” but he mentions “pop fusion.” When asked about his favorite his reply was “Ohhhh — heavy rock, all sorts of genre, and orchestral from movies. I love jazz.”

Adam Campagne is the music teacher and band and choir director at KHS. O’Morchoe says he is “appreciative of the way Mr. Campagne picks music that is not easy, that challenges our band’s dynamics. He is ‘out there’ with music but always when we perform he sees that we rise to it.” The jazz band wins awards by not playing traditional big band music.

If you were at the band and choir winter concert you remember the chills and thrills as the band and choir pumped out the Mannheim Steamroller version of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

The entire concert was an inspiration. When I shared that feeling with O’Morchoe, he expressed such pleasure in the band’s ability to entertain the community with such professional performances. What gifts the Arts Department at Kingston High gives to us and our community.

To learn more about the music program and events at Kingston High, visit www.nkschools.org/kh, click on activities and find the band and choir page.

O’Morchoe will be one of two drummers in the upcoming musical, “Back to the ’80s.” The performances will be at the North Kitsap Auditorium on Feb. 25 and 26, and March 4 and 5. From the era that brought the world the Rubik’s Cube and the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” comes this “totally awesome” musical in the style of movies such as “Back to the Future” and the “Karate Kid.”

Join the graduating class of William Ocean High School as they live through their final year— as they experience the fun, the heartbreak, the loves and the loneliness of growing up…all set to the biggest hits of the ’80s. Drama teacher Alison Roberts says they have never had so many students try out for a production. Don’t miss it!

The University of Southern California will be the big winner as O’Morchoe — with music as the center of his life — pursues an education in music production and technology.

On another note, the Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo, in partnership with James Andrew’s Visual Art students and FAB, will feature a student artist’s work starting in February. Also, local businesses are being asked to be a sponsor of FAB.

Art in the schools is essential to good education and a healthy community. Ask for more information about this at patio@pacificeyecare.com. As a supporter of the Arts see your business ad in FAB’s publications.