Franklin Pierce High School
Encyclopedia
Franklin Pierce High School in Midland, Washington
is named after the fourteenth US President, Franklin Pierce
, who was president when the Washington Territory was formed in 1853.
Many composers of note have had works performed, including: Persichetti, Bennett, Grainger, Holst, etc.
In 1974, Ford Middle School (Franklin Pierce’s feeder school) , also under the direction of Tom Anderson, performed at the Music Educators National Conference in Washington.
The music tradition is currently continued under the direction of Matt Pelandini (band) who has taken over the choirs after Dr. Greg Vancil left. There are currently four choirs at FP, including Concert Choir, Advanced Choir, the Wild Cards (a 12 voice male choir) and the Treblemakers (a 12 voice female choir). The band roster consists of a jazz band, drum line, pep band, concert band, and symphonic band. The band also occasionally joins the musical theatre department as the pit orchestra.
Performance traditions include an October combined concert, regular athletic and assembly performances, and Carol Fest and Cabaret (fully choreographed and costumed choir shows). Every year the themes change for Carol Fest and Cabaret. A highlight at the Cabaret show is the traditional Blacklight Beatles, a 30 minute medley of Beatles hits performed by wearing all black with white gloves. With only the black lights on in the room, the hands of the vocalists glow and form patterns and shapes that are astonishing to the eyes of the audience. Cabaret is also opened and closed every year by Wilkommen and Cabaret, two songs from the Broadway musical.
Puget Sound League. It is classified as a 2A school.
Daffodil Festival. A competition is held in house to select the Franklin Pierce Princess, who goes on to compete against other regional schools, for the Daffodil Festival Queen title. The Queen title is considered the highest honor of the regional festival. The Franklin Pierce band accompanies the float of Franklin Pierce princesses every year in the parade, held annually in April. All of the previous years queens can be found at: http://www.daffodilfestival.net/Royalty-Info/queens_page.htm
Midland, Washington
Midland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midland is located at ....
is named after the fourteenth US President, Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
, who was president when the Washington Territory was formed in 1853.
Music
Music at Franklin Pierce High School has a rich history. The bands enjoyed the leadership of Thomas Anderson through the 1970’s and 1980’s continuing with Ivan Giddings in the 1990’s.Many composers of note have had works performed, including: Persichetti, Bennett, Grainger, Holst, etc.
In 1974, Ford Middle School (Franklin Pierce’s feeder school) , also under the direction of Tom Anderson, performed at the Music Educators National Conference in Washington.
The music tradition is currently continued under the direction of Matt Pelandini (band) who has taken over the choirs after Dr. Greg Vancil left. There are currently four choirs at FP, including Concert Choir, Advanced Choir, the Wild Cards (a 12 voice male choir) and the Treblemakers (a 12 voice female choir). The band roster consists of a jazz band, drum line, pep band, concert band, and symphonic band. The band also occasionally joins the musical theatre department as the pit orchestra.
Performance traditions include an October combined concert, regular athletic and assembly performances, and Carol Fest and Cabaret (fully choreographed and costumed choir shows). Every year the themes change for Carol Fest and Cabaret. A highlight at the Cabaret show is the traditional Blacklight Beatles, a 30 minute medley of Beatles hits performed by wearing all black with white gloves. With only the black lights on in the room, the hands of the vocalists glow and form patterns and shapes that are astonishing to the eyes of the audience. Cabaret is also opened and closed every year by Wilkommen and Cabaret, two songs from the Broadway musical.
Sports
Franklin Pierce competes in the SouthPuget Sound League. It is classified as a 2A school.
Daffodil Festival
Every year, Franklin Pierce participates in the Pierce CountyPierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
Daffodil Festival. A competition is held in house to select the Franklin Pierce Princess, who goes on to compete against other regional schools, for the Daffodil Festival Queen title. The Queen title is considered the highest honor of the regional festival. The Franklin Pierce band accompanies the float of Franklin Pierce princesses every year in the parade, held annually in April. All of the previous years queens can be found at: http://www.daffodilfestival.net/Royalty-Info/queens_page.htm
Past Franklin Pierce Daffodil Festival Queens
- Carol Mills, 1959
- Carol Parcheta, 1967
- Wendy Van Noy, 1975
- Katrina Woldseth, 2002
Notable alumni
- Pat AustinPat AustinPat Austin is a retired American drag racer. He competed in the National Hot Rod Association . He won four NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car championships between 1987 and 1991. He was the first driver to win eliminator titles at the same event when he won the Top Fuel and Alcohol Funny Car classes at...
, 4 time NHRANational Hot Rod AssociationThe National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
Funny CarFunny CarFunny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'...
national champion - Sean OsbornSean OsbornSean Osborn is a former clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and is a regular substitute in the clarinet section of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. A student of Stanley Hasty, Frank Kowalsky, and Eric Mandat. Osborn has traveled Europe, Japan, and North America as a soloist and...
, award winning clarinetist and composer - Amber LancasterAmber Lancaster-Personal life:Lancaster was born in Tacoma, Washington. She attended Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma. In 1998, she won the title of Miss Washington Teen USA. She went on to join the Sea Gals, the cheerleading squad of the Seattle Seahawks football team. Lancaster was a member of the Sea Gals...
, Main character in Hard Times with Rj Berger - Jeremy WestJeremy WestJeremy West is a British sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late 1980s. He won two gold medals at the 1986 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Montreal, earning them in the K-1 500 m and K-1 1000 m events....
, Host of Jeff and Jeremy in the Morning, the highest rated morning radio program in San Luis Obispo, CA.