This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Former Students To Memorialize Beloved Music Man Bob Foucht

The memorial service for Byron "Bob" Foucht, long-time and beloved music teacher in the Swampscott schools will be held Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m. at the First Church in Swampscott.


The memorial service for Byron "Bob" Foucht, long-time and beloved music teacher in the Swampscott schools who passed away on Feb. 7, will be held Saturday May 18, 10 a.m. at the First Church in Swampscott.

As part of the service, five former students will perform the world premiere of a jazz arrangement created by a sixth student in Mr. Foucht's honor — the Swampscott Marching Band's signature "On Wisconsin."

David Bondelevitch (SHS '81) says the idea for the arrangement came during discussions about the memorial. "Perhaps my happiest times in high school were playing in the stage [jazz] band. Mr. Foucht was a huge jazz fan." Bondelevitch went on to study jazz composition at the Berklee College of Music with the legendary Herb Pomeroy. "A jazz arrangement is the perfect idiom to express the tremendous influence that Mr. Foucht had on my life."

After college, Bondelevitch went on to receive an MFA in Film Production from USC and has had a 25-year career as a music editor and mixer in film and television, including two Emmy awards. In addition to his professional work with Hollywood, he is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado, in Denver.

Performing Bondelevitch's arrangement will be five other students of Mr. Foucht's, playing together again for the first time in over 30 years. All five went on from Swampscott High School to enjoy careers in music, they said in a statement, "taking inspiration and encouragement from the man who taught us a different way to see the world, and who had such a profound and lasting effect on our lives."

Warren Levenson, guitar (SHS '78), received a B.A. in Music from Brandeis University and an M.M. from the New England Conservatory. He teaches guitar at Boston University, and a variety of music courses and ensembles at Gann Academy in Waltham, where he also served two terms as department chair. He performs jazz and other styles throughout New England.

Michael McClung, bass (SHS '79), spent ten years after college in New York City as a Columbia Records and independent label artist.  He then received an MFA from UC San DIego, where he won awards as a live theatre sound designer in affiliation with the La Jolla Playhouse. Today, he plays locally with the Philip Alexander band. 

Beth Smith, bari sax (SHS '79), spent several years as an actress/singer/dancer and went on to produce theater on and off-Broadway, and across the country. She currently manages a team of writers/editors/designers producing books for authors seeking to self-publish and creates private publications for people seeking to document milestones and share their legacies.

Lynda Stephens, alto sax (SHS '78), studied music at Westfield State University, the New England Conservatory, and Syracuse University where she expanded on her considerable repertoire of acoustic instruments to study electronic media production. She currently performs and records with Underwater Airport on saxophone, electronic wind instrument, keyboards, percussion, and voice.

Mark "Whisky" Wolinski, drums (SHS '78), attended Berklee College of Music, then became its Recording Studio Manager, and has recorded and mixed concert sound for hundreds of bands around the country. Currently, he teaches private drum lessons, and plays with local jazz band "The Jazz Navigators", the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Philip Alexander band.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?