Kelly Kirkland : Class of '95

I will be forever grateful for the incredible amount of time and energy Mr. Robertson invested in the CRHS music programs.  Being part of the marching band in particular was a very special experience.  He created a space where we could be serious about our shared work, find our way into our "young adult" selves, and form life-long friendships.  After high school I learned that my parents had received a job opportunity out of the area but part of the reason we stayed was because I was doing so well in school and getting so much out of my band experience.

Some of my favorite memories include:

• Finding out in the summertime band newsletter that I would be performing a solo during the field show for my senior year (Somewhere That's Green, Little Shop of Horrors).  Fearless with my friends but very shy in public, I was absolutely terrified.  Mr. Robertson's confidence in me, and coaching, helped me be successful.  (He also showed great confidence in me the time he let me take his sports car to the grocery store a few blocks away because he was out of coffee--almost as fun as the solo).
• I appreciated his tolerance of my weird sense of humor, particularly when I snuck into his office to play Dead Puppies by Dr. Demento over the loudspeaker. 
• I don't think he ever flinched when my girlfriends and I started calling him "Coach."  It was our way of making fun of the football team, but it was also our way of giving him a respectful nickname, the kind of thing you can only get away with a great teacher. 
  

I'm sure as a group we were infuriating sometimes but he was the right man for the job to keep us all in line and keep us inspired.  I wish him the very best!

Kelly Kirkland
French horn/mellophone/flugel player from 1991-1995