Volunteer Spotlight

Parent (and grandparent) volunteers keep the band program running and help to ensure success for Horizon band students. This page features some of the best of the best.

Kristi Tjader, whose son Kamron is a junior percussionist in the front ensemble, is an almost constant presence at games and competitions, and her hard work, high energy, and reliability earned her a regular spot on the scenic backdrops crew for the past two seasons. She helps load and unload the backdrops truck; assemble, pull and disassemble the backdrops. Thanks, Kristi, for always being there to pull for the band!


Marie Dwyer (in the photo with husband Dave), is the mother of senior bass drum player Jonathan. Marie has supported the band and Band Fans in just about every way possible: She volunteers to help at many games and competitions, she has taken care of several equipment and instrument repair issues for us through her employer, she managed the Horizon Band website for a couple of years, and her family has made several generous cash donations to the program, matched by Dave’s employer, Honeywell. Please give Marie your thanks for her contributions the next time you see her.


Amy Spinti is mother of junior drum major and saxophonist Catie Nicewonger (Amy is on right in the photo, with Cathrine McClure and daughter Catie in the background). Amy began 2011 as the Band Fans board secretary, then moved into the role of VP of Volunteers in the fall. In the latter role, Amy has been instrumental (get it?) in recruiting, scheduling, and organizing volunteers and chaperones for games, competitions, and other events. She has also been an active volunteer and chaperone herself, including staffing the Spirit Table for every game last season. Be sure to give Amy your thanks for her contributions the next time you see her.


Angie Horton, is mother of junior color guard member Alycia Allaire. Angie has helped the band program in many ways over the past three seasons, including working the lunch fundraiser, volunteering at games and competitions, chaperoning Band Camp twice, and being one of our top money earners in last year’s Golf-a-Thon Fundraiser. Thanks, Angie, for all that you do for HPR and the band program!


Dave Siekmann is shown here working with the backdrops crew at a competition. Dave is the father of two HPR graduates, Marshall and Garrett, and his son Justin is currently a junior trumpet player. Dave is a member of the backdrops crew, assembling and rolling the scenic backdrops on and off the field for games and competitions, and he also volunteers to drive the equipment truck. Dads such as Dave are essential to keeping the HPR moving. Thanks, Dave!


Pam Cole is shown here with her senior tenor drum player Amanda. Pam has been a member of the Band Fans board for several years, and during that time has organized Band Camp, led our fundraiser efforts, worked the garage sale, sold Harkins Theatres gift cards, chaperoned games, competitions, and out-of-town trips, and handling  the Butter Braids fundraiser. This all-around helpful mom is a big part of the band program’s success. Thanks, Pam, for all you do!


Cathrine McClure-Tankersley, mother of junior tenor drum player Ridley and sophomore keyboardist Ian, is best known as the uniform mom, organizing the uniform fitting for marching band and symphonic band students, hand altering the uniform items, and coordinating the uniform and tuxedo cleaning at the ends of each band’s season. She’s also a regular chaperone for football games. Thanks for helping to make our band students look their best, Cathrine!


Barbara Hinderman, mother of junior bass drum player Zach, has pitched in to help Band Fans and the band program in innumerable ways over the past two seasons, including recruiting and managing volunteers for our lunch duty fundraiser, recruiting and scheduling truck drivers for our away games, organizing equipment and supplies for games and competitions, and chaperoning many of our events. Be sure to thank her when you see her next!


Steve Liming is the father of junior trumpet player Katie (and HPR saxophone alum Tim). Steve’s contributions over the past three years include leading the structural design of our scenic backdrops, being a member of the backdrops hauling team (assembling and rolling the scenic backdrops on and off the field for games and competitions), chaperone for home and away games, serving on the board’s nominating committee, and keeping our website up to date. He’s always busy helping with the band, and for that we’re grateful.


Melissa Kennedy, parent of senior Megan and freshman Katie, is one of the unsung heroes of Band Fans. Among her extensive list of contributions: She serves as the board treasurer, she organized and hand-delivered nearly every ticket for the Harry Potter premiere in July that raised more than $2000 for the band, and she and her husband Mike (shown in the photo with her) volunteer regularly for lunch fundraiser duty, pick up all the food and work the concessions for volleyball matches, and pick up and deliver the food for our students on competition days. Wow! These are the kinds of volunteers without whom our band program could not run. Please thank Melissa (and Mike) next time you see them.

Neal Deacon, whose son Matt is a sophomore snare drum player in HPR, is beginning his second season as an active volunteer and chaperone. Most recently, he helped to rehab the scenic backdrop frames and he rebuilt and painted all of our equipment wagons. Thanks for all you do, “Mr D”!