On May 14 Mr. Garren Cuthrell conducted his last concert at Heritage. It was the Heritage Instrumental Music showcases which included performances from the jazz band, combined band, combined orchestra, and all choirs. It also included a performance of the song “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt with all groups besides jazz. Right before the bands, choir, and orchestra performed “When You Believe”, the choir teacher, Mr. Keena, stopped the show for a quick surprise. Right before the concert all the students brought or obtained funny Hawaiian shirts, Cuthrell’s iconic look, and set down their instruments to put them on for their last song to surprise him.
Cuthrell was then presented with a new shirt that had been signed by all the band, orchestra, and choir students. The students’ parents also secretly raised enough money to send Cuthrell and his wife on a trip to Hawaii. This was revealed at his surprise retirement party on May 16: “I thought that was freaking amazing, the shirt was cool, the trip is above and beyond anything I would have expected. It means a lot, I’m going to take it and I’m going to love it and I’m going to think of them as I do it and I am very thankful;” says Cuthrell.
Talk about a good last goodbye. By the end of the concert many students were emotional. “For someone who does not show his vulnerable side, it was sweet to see Cuthrell cry and it made me start to tear up,” says Sydney Elliot 26’.
At the end of the last song the people in the stands gave a standing ovation showing how proud and impressed they were at not only the performance but by the students and their conductor.
Cuthrell’s legacy will have a lasting impact on the Heritage Instrumental Music program.