Though many people may know the current band director, Darin Faul, what about the music and activities director when the school was first founded? Edward Aliverti, former music director and founder of the school’s choir program, was a cornerstone of both the school and community. In an historic issue of The Enterprise newspaper, they described Aliverti as a dynamo of energy who had founded the Mello-Aires at Edmonds High School, the Bel Canto Choir, and the SnoKing Chorale. He brought his unique energy to Terrace when it formed, and that song has continued to ring out in the halls ever since.
A spirit of song was left behind when Aliverti died on Feb. 3, 2010, but his legacy continues to live on. He was more known for his pursuits in wrestling announcing, now living on in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. With all this history of freshly founded choirs sprouting around Mountlake Terrace, it’s no wonder the music wing has had such an impact on the community. It continues to thrive thanks to the current director, Darin Faul, who brought more students to the jazz program and let them flourish. The program was so loved it became overcrowded and brought the need for fundraising, to which the Music Boosters readily came forward to fund.
In more recent history, musicians who have collected and swarmed the program have graduated and continued beyond rooms 230 and 231. Though the tradition morphs and changes over time, growing each year that passes, it always remains.
Lil Mosey, Mark O’Conner, Ariana DeBoo, Phil and Tim Hanseroth, and Jake One are some of the musicians who have blossomed from Terrace soil. Without a doubt, there are more who may not have gotten the same amount of recognition or have gone to join ensembles, but these graduates give hope of musical possibilities beyond secondary schooling. Just this last year, students from the 2024-2025 school year went on to compete in the Essentially Ellington music festival and were acknowledged for their talents. Justin Ho as an outstanding guitarist, Sophie Ionitsa as an outstanding pianist, and Bennett Harvey was recognized for his trombone skills. The school’s band has been invited to perform at the Essentially Ellington festival and competition 10 times, and that will only continue to grow as this music program thrives. They also attend the Lionel Hampton Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Ales for Arts and more. At almost every festival Terrace’s bands hold strong and often wins. Beyond the individual awards that students may earn, the program itself is exemplary and is a source of pride for the school. This program constantly raises the school’s spirit at games, assemblies, and more. This can easily be taken for granted, so next time an assembly comes around, cheer extra loud!
The jazz band may be the most acknowledged, but the music program branches out much more than that. The recent creation of a new co-curricular class, the performing music collective, is a good example of this. This course incorporates vocal, instrumental, and performance elements of music. The class formed last year and was just getting off the ground, this year the traction for it remains strong as more students are drawn to the halls filled with harmonies and opportunities. Experience doesn’t matter once those doors are opened, there is no particular structure or curriculum, just a loose artistic environment for kids to thrive and make their own path. That can be a scary idea, getting thrown into the deep end not knowing what direction is up, but it’s a good real world experience. Not everything has rules or a clear sign pointing you where to go next, sometimes following the rhythm is the best bet. In this class students are offered the opportunity to learn something new and jump head first into new instruments or vocal challenges, maybe even a chance behind the curtain running lights or management.
Someone has to be behind the scene making posters and getting the word out to fill the band room! The whole point of the class is performing and all students are encouraged to play their work at the showcases, even if it isn’t as perfect as they would’ve liked, because music isn’t about being perfect. This isn’t Juilliard, it’s an open learning environment kids need to actually explore themselves. High school is where many students really get their opportunity to flourish and explore, more chances to find what might interest them. A majority of middle schools in the district don’t have choir or theater opportunities, but at least have band and orchestra. Many students who don’t want to stick to your typical school ensemble don’t have anywhere to learn or much support, pushed to the sidelines. This class breaks the norm and has become a highlight of many students’ schedules.
Nearly every month the students get that opportunity to get on stage and show the effort they put in over the hours and hours in the classroom. Students make their way to the stage to play for their first or 13th time. Students, staff and families pool in and grab free concessions while awaiting the show. Lights of different hues transform the school’s band room into a jazzy venue in seconds. Awkward teens let the spirit of the stage flow through their being and take over. Mistakes may happen, and later on the students may cringe but every night blends into a beautiful set.
None of this would have been possible without the support of the community and especially the board directors for the Music Boosters. The president of the board, Lori Rees, can be found at each event and assists with set up and tear down. If it weren’t for people like her invested in seeing the students go far, this class and nights like this wouldn’t get near as much success. The board’s fundraising and support for music directors promotes the program through active community engagement and involvement.
Nearly every month, a new poster is up, decorating the halls with new dates for a performing arts showcase. Reminders ring out through the music hall as students practice, and over the intercom to announce a night for creatives to show off their skills.
The first showcase of the school year was Oct. 16 starting at 7 p.m. in the band room. Set up started early and performers began to arrive at 5 p.m. to practice alone or with their group to relieve nerves. The night consisted of both originals and covers, some notable ones being “Creep” by Radiohead performed by Kidney Failure, and “Black” by Pearl Jam performed by Nolan Garrett and Holden Clarke, “The Girl From Ipanema” by Frank Sinatra performed by the Bossa Nova group, and some original performances from other members of the class.
Students learn a lot at school, critical skills that will be needed in the future, but one in particular has blossomed and stood proud. The performing arts program at Terrace has flourished and thrived for years, an escape and cultural way to communicate sound through the long corridors. Seeing it just as an extra-curricular activity dims its bright light that has shone down on the school since it was first founded. In the beginning, Mountlake Terrace High School was ground zero for music and performance of all varieties, with three competitive choirs and award-winning music programs that travelled far and wide.
As years passed and budget cuts slimmed down the program, Terrace’s musical arts programs became a fraction of what they used to be.
To see so many new and old students taking the stage is an inspiring sign for the future of the Hawks music program.
Although the program may flicker and stutter at times, the community will undoubtedly persevere for many years.
The more you know…
Terrace choir toured Central America
In the summer of 1971, the Dynamics, the MTHS jazz choir, toured Panama at the invitation of the Panamanian government and performed for a total of 26,300 people during their two week stay. The tour was led by the choir director at the time, Frank DeMiero – English/journalism teacher Vince DeMiero’s father.
The group served as official cultural ambassadors for Washington state, and were given a special acknowledgment and send-off from Washington’s governor at the time, Daniel Evans.
On their way back to Washington, the Dynamics also performed in Mexico City and for NASA scientists in Houston. The tour was one of many accomplishments for DeMiero, who later founded the Edmonds College music program. He taught at Mountlake Terrace High School from 1967 to 1974. During that time, the Dynamics won first place at every major vocal jazz festival on the West Coast.
