Mika Armaly (Choir, Beginning Orchestra, Cadet Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra)

Mika Armaly has been involved with music from an early age and began her first musical steps with the Suzuki Method. Ever since, Mrs. Armaly has dedicated herself to music performance and music education. Although she has taught music in all grade levels, Mrs. Armaly finds middle school to be a wonderful niche of enthusiasm and energy!  Mrs. Armaly enjoys reading, listening to music of all genres, and playing with her goofy dog and two cats. Currently, Mrs. Armaly performs with the Washington Wind Symphony. 

Dan Rowe (Beginning Band, Cadet Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Senior Jazz Band, Junior Jazz Band I )

Dan Rowe has taught instrumental music for the Seattle Public Schools for 25 years. In addition, Mr. Rowe has given private lessons for many years.  Before coming to Hamilton he taught band, piano and jazz improvisation at Eckstein. Besides teaching, Mr. Rowe enjoys composing music for the ensembles he teaches and scoring for film, theater and video. He also performs jazz piano for corporate and social events, and plays the trumpet in community concert and jazz bands.

Lary Barilleau (Vocal Jazz ) 

Lary Barilleau has been a professional musician for over 30 years as a percussionist and composer in jazz, Latin jazz, and contemporary jazz.  His mother, Vonne Griffin, was a jazz vocalist who was inducted into the Earshot Jazz Hall of Fame. Lary received a Grammy nomination, along with legendary jazz vocalist Mark Murphy and the New Stories Trio, in 1998. A teacher in the Seattle Public Schools for 16 years, Lary has received both the William G. Carr Award for Excellence in Teaching from the National Education Association Foundation and the KCTS Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Education. He currently leads The Latin Jazz Collective. 

Photos by Monte Levinson