Franklin Pierce High School

Franklin Pierce High School in Parkland, Washington is named after the fourteenth US President, Franklin Pierce, who was president when the Washington Territory was formed in 1853.

Music at Franklin Pierce High School has a rich history. The bands enjoyed the leadership of Thomas Anderson through the 1970s and 1980s continuing with Ivan Giddings in the 1990s. Many composers of note have had works performed, including: Persichetti, Bennett, Grainger, Holst, etc. In 1974, Ford Middle School (Franklin Pierce's feeder school), also under the direction of Tom Anderson, performed at the Music Educators National Conference in Washington.

The music tradition is currently continued under the direction of Matt Pelandini (band) who has taken over the choirs after Dr. Greg Vancil left. Prior years from 1975-1990, Angelo Manzo left a legacy of choral involvement. He taught at Ford Junior High and Franklin Pierce, thus being his own recruiter, Manzo was a constant "kid magnet" and many students loved being in his classroom. Often performing in Regional and State Competitions, Angelo Manzo was an inspiration to many aspiring Music Educators from Franklin Pierce. There are currently four choirs at FP, including Concert Choir, Advanced Choir, the Wild Cards (a 12 voice male choir) and the Treblemakers (a 12 voice female choir). The band roster consists of a jazz band, drum line, pep band, concert band, and symphonic band. The band also occasionally joins the musical theatre department as the pit orchestra.

Performance traditions include an October combined concert, regular athletic and assembly performances, and Carol Fest and Cabaret (fully choreographed and costumed choir shows). Every year the themes change for Carol Fest and Cabaret. A highlight at the Cabaret show is the traditional Blacklight Beatles, a 30-minute medley of Beatles hits performed by wearing all black with white gloves. With only the black lights on in the room, the hands of the vocalists glow and form patterns and shapes that are astonishing to the eyes of the audience. Cabaret is also opened and closed every year by Wilkommen and Cabaret, two songs from the Broadway musical.

Franklin Pierce competes in the South Puget Sound League. It is classified as a 2A school.

Every year, Franklin Pierce participates in the Pierce County Daffodil Festival. A competition is held in house to select the Franklin Pierce Princess, who goes on to compete against other regional schools, for the Daffodil Festival Queen title. The Queen title is considered the highest honor of the regional festival. The Franklin Pierce band accompanies the float of Franklin Pierce princesses every year in the parade, held annually in April. All of the previous years queens can be found at: http://www.daffodilfestival.net/Royalty-Info/queens_page.htm

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