| Mr. Mark Kevin Gunderson |
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| Goodbye, Mr. Gunderson After teaching at Los Altos High School for 12 years, Mark Gunderson announced at the End of Marching Season Party that he will be leaving at the end of the 2002 school year. He continued to describe his plans on marriage in June and a move up to San Francisco to the sea of shocked faces of students, parents, and staff. Mark comes from a musical family. His mother and sister had played the clarinet, and his father and brother had played trumpet. Being the youngest of three children, he didn't follow anyone's footsteps in learning an instrument, instead played the trombone. His whole family are all teachers, except for his mother, and are all music directors, except for his sister. Mr. G went to Cal State University, Fullerton, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 1988, and in May of 1999, received a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting. He came to Los Altos in 1990 as assistant director to his father, Don Gunderson. After 10 years as a father-son band, "Young Gun," as he was formally called by students, assumed the position as head director when "Top Gun" retired in 2000. |
| Due to Mr. Gunderson's knowledge in trombone, it helped him with his vast knowledge in brass instruments, and he demonstrates it as brass coordinator for the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corp. In addition, he's an active adjudicator as well as a member of the SCSBOA. Congratulations on your engagement, Mr. G. You've done so much to help build and keep our reputation as it is. You've touched the lives of thousands of students through your kindness and patience, not only as a teacher, but as a friend. Thank you for being such a great director, and for truly caring about the band, your students, and your work. You've taught everyone so much, and words cannot describe the influence you've had. No matter what, you'll always be our director, director of the Conqueror Entertainment Unit. Good luck...you will be deeply missed. |