Senior marches through high school
High school can really blow sometimes.
No one knows that better than John Kottkamp, a tuba and trombone player with the WHS Golden Apple Band and this year’s Mr. Panther. Kottkamp has been marching with the band for five years, beginning his musical career in fourth grade with the trombone.
“In fourth grade we had a music program at our school for some reason and I started learning the saxophone so I went to rent a saxophone and they said, ‘We don’t have any saxophones, but what’s pretty close to a saxophone is a trombone.’ Which isn’t [close to a saxophone] at all. They’re completely different. So I started playing that,” Kottkamp said.
Kottkamp first marched with the Golden Apple Band in its field show in eighth grade. Despite learning the trombone, Kottkamp said that he prefers the tuba.
“The tuba is just more fun,” Kottkamp said. “It’s bigger, it’s louder, it’s a good time. You can mess around a lot more.”
Kottkamp has also played in the Icicle Creek Youth Symphony, but said that he really only enjoys playing music with the band.
“I’m going to apply for a few music scholarships,” Kottcamp said. “I’m going to see if I can just be in a wind ensemble or a general band.”
Kottkamp said that his time at Wenatchee High School brought him closer to the band instructor, Jim Kovach and his history teacher James Elwyn.”
“Just by being around [Mr. Kovach], seeing how he teachers, seeing how he interacts with people has been really great,” Kottkamp said. “Mr. Elwyn has shaped me a lot through his class, seeing he can make a boring class fun and having him for history, which is a boring class, has been really fun and has inspired me to be at teacher.” Mr. Elwyn has shaped me a lot through his class, seeing he can make a boring class fun and having him for history, which is a boring class, has been really fun and has inspired me to be at teacher. — John Kottcamp, senior
Kottkamp plans to either go into the Early Childhood Education, teaching children up to the age of 8, or teach high school history. Next year, he will be participating in an exchange program to Belgium, planning to transfer to Pacific Lutheran University afterwards.
Playing in the Golden Apple Band opened Kottkamp’s eyes up to the true meaning of friendship, the bond he shared with Kovach.
“Me and Mr. Kovach are best friends on the down-low,” Kottkamp said. “We don’t like to talk about it, but we’re pretty close. We have matching shirts. We just spent so much time together in band, hanging out, making jokes, and being close.”
Kottkamp said that he plans to keep the Mr. Panther sash as a trophy, despite senior Camille George’s insistence that he return it.
“I was very excited, I didn’t expect to win,” Kottkamp said.
For his talent, Kottkamp paired with senior Brady McDarnIt in a ballet act that incorporated the elevation of beach ball between the two.
