Stillwater School's music festival offers signs of hope

Last month I had the opportunity to be an adjudicator at the Stillwater Christian School Music Festival in Kalispell. The 280 students who participated came from the Stillwater Christian School; the Mission Valley Christian Academy, Polson; the Hot Springs High School, Hot Springs; the Heritage Christian School, Bozeman; the Northwest Christian High School, Spokane; the Flathead Valley Home Educators Association, Kalispell Area; and the Christian Home Educators of the Missoula Area, Missoula.

The philosophy of the festival is to encourage, instruct, and inspire young musicians, not just to award prizes to “winners.” They are all winners for their necessary arduous preparation and their courage to perform for an audience of their families and peers as well as a few intimidating-looking adjudicators.

During those two days, I heard a great deal of beautiful, well-performed music. As I listened to the various ensembles and soloists, I looked around the room at those friends and family members who were observing. At one point, I glanced over at the father of the young man singing just then. The proud father had a broad smile on his face with eyes that had become somewhat teary. I discovered that teary eyes are contagious.

Seeing those hundreds of young students and watching their overall demeanor and interactions with each other made me realize that perhaps there still is hope for humanity in a rather messy and often inhumane world.

Micah Hunter, the Stillwater Christian School choir director, organized this event with expert attention to the numerous details involved. He deserves substantial kudos for his dedication, patience, and hard work. The Stillwater Christian School also merits recognition for sponsoring such an important educational and artistic event.

I came away from this experience with admiration for the student performers as well as their family members, teachers and peers. I also am impressed with the Stillwater Christian School not only for their offerings of important academic classes, but also for recognizing the educational importance of the arts. 

Living in the Flathead Valley is a blessing. Although I was born and raised in Great Falls, I spent many years teaching in another state with high crime rates, drug use, and, sadly, many young people who lack positive influences in their lives.

Shortly after retiring from teaching in that other state and moving here, my wife and I were in the parking lot of a supermarket just after school got out for the afternoon. As we watched the parade of young people strolling by, some with friends and others with families, I told my wife it felt like we were in a Norman Rockwell painting. Even though it was just an ordinary grocery store parking lot in the Flathead Valley, the contrast from where we had just been living was striking.

The recent Stillwater Christian School Music Festival reminded me how blessed we are to live in the Flathead Valley, where family life, manners, patriotism, and faith still are strongly in place. 

Let’s not take it for granted.

James Stanard is a resident of Kalispell.