MacDonald Finds Enjoyment In Music Department

By Bill Vander Weele

It can easily be seen that Wolf Point High School senior Alexander MacDonald loves the time spends learning in the school’s music department.

Playing french horn for the pep band, he was excited when Wolf Point’s band and Harlem’s band recently played two songs together at a basketball tournament.

“It got everybody’s attention,” MacDonald said. “All I know is that it’s one of my favorite memories.’ The two bands performed “Sweet Caroline” and “Bad Romance” to the delight of fans attending the tournament in Glasgow. “I like the fact that we get to travel and play good songs,” MacDonald said of being a pep band member.

He has been playing the french horn for three years.

“I like its sound,” MacDonald said. “It’s known to be harder.”

He also has played the bass guitar, trumpet and baritone.

MacDonald explains music has always been part of his life and always will be a vital element. He is planning to attend the University of Montana and earn a degree in music. He then wants to find a job in production and sell or produce his own songs. A goal is attending the Barklee College of Music in Boston.

MacDonald is looking forward to the district music festival in Wolf Point this spring because it will be the first “true” music festival since his sophomore year.

He is also pleased to be a member of the school’s swing choir.

“I like the fact that it doesn’t seem like a class, but a club,” MacDonald said. “It’s something we do for enjoyment. Plus, all the friends I have in there.”

He appreciates the role that music teacher Russell Johnson has played in his life.

“He makes it fun because he doesn’t limit me,” Mac-Donald said. “He pushes me to do it. He doesn’t baby me.”

MacDonald thanks former music teacher Lynne Monson for getting him interested in making music a career and also thanks his friends for their support.