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About the Booster Club

The Orchestra Boosters raise our community's awareness of our needs throughout each school year. We are proud to raise funds for new instruments and instrument repair, for classroom equipment, and scholarships for students.

All Orchestra parents are automatically members of the Booster club. Many hands make light work, and we have fun "boosting" each other and our students and Mr. Kam.

It is essential that we continue to advocate for support in the classroom and our families. Over the last few years, our orchestra enrollment has grown from 90  students to 120 students. Help us keep up with our rapid growth by joining us at our regular monthly meetings (usually on the second Tuesday at 8pm). Board positions are normally held for a year and we need parents to serve as President, Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster, and Fundraiser Coordinator.

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Andrew Kam

Orchestra Director

My goal as Orchestra Director is to serve all students through a comprehensive and inclusive music education. 

Each student's unique identity creates a diverse classroom environment, making BHS Orchestra a truly special place. I strongly believe that every student posseses the skills to work together to create art in our community. My teaching approach utilizes a blend of string pedagogy (techniques, scales and methods), and progressive programming (standard repertoire, living composers, composers of color, etc.). I completed my Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Miami in 2006, and my Master's Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Oregon in 2008. In addition, I attended several summer intensives, including the Indiana University Summer Strings- attending as a student performer in 2001, and as a teacher-participant in 2010. My mentors included Allen Nii, Henry Miyamura , Katherine Hafner, Glenn Basham, and Kathy Lucktenberg. Through their tutelage, I have learned that teaching and learning can be accomplished while incorporating the whole musician. Each musician has an individual learning style and passion for music, and it is essential to tap into that drive. Outside of the classroom, I perform as a section violinist with Tacoma Symphony. I have recorded on a Grammy-nominated soundtrack ("Praying", Kesha), and occasionally perform live with other mainstream groups. The 2022-23 academic year will be my 9th season as conductor for Bellevue Youth Symphony's Cadet String Orchestra. I am always open to collaboration between our school music program and its community. Whether it is an artistic partnership between a composer and our orchestras, alumni visits, or performance opportunities for our students at local venues - we would love to hear from you.

Meet the Student Council

Hello! My name is Esther Yoon and I am a senior at Bellevue High School. I have had the privilege of serving in Orchestra Council for the past four years, this year as the President. I started playing violin in 2nd grade and my passion for music has continued ever since. My favorite memory from orchestra was going to Western Washington University last year and winning 2nd place in our division. This year, I hope to establish a welcoming community within our orchestra and to create more memories before I graduate, especially at Disneyland. 

Esther Yoon, President

Boosters Board

President

Kerry Hill

Treasurer

Belinda Wong

Secretary

Jennifer Strophy

Communications

Aina Lee

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