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Cathy Bisaillon



I grew up in Southern California as a shy, nerdy child and adolescent. My father made me take accordion lessons at age 7 (it was torture, but at least I learned to read music). I switched to alto sax at age 9 which I played throughout junior high and high school--band became my life. I credit marching and jazz bands with pulling me out of my shell, teaching me to make lasting friendships and developing my leadership skills. I had 5 band classes my senior year! I thought about majoring in music, but I cannot sing so the ear-training classes would have been fairly impossible. I majored in psychology at Cal State Fullerton, but took concert band there and jazz band at a local community college. I taught a few beginning to intermediate students at the time.

I graduated college in 1985 and was married that month when Phil and I started our life together. I sold my prized Selmer sax to afford a honeymoon! We have now been married 25 years and have two adult children (Keith is a trumpet player and a high school instrumental music teacher in Colorado; Carolyn has participated in choral music groups most of her life and is now pursuing a degree in social work at Eastern Washington University). I have worked for Easter Seals Washington since 1995, and became the CEO in 2002. It is a highly rewarding but highly stressful career; I love it, but I need an outlet.

I bought a piano and took some lessons in 2000, but still felt unfulfilled in terms of making music. In 2002, I found the Hometown Band at the Silver City Oktoberfest, bought an old used Yamaha alto sax and started playing again. It came back to me amazingly fast--like riding a bike. Since then, I have learned clarinet which I play in the Hometown Band and double on for jazz; have played several years with Rude and Unprofessional (a little big band); and play in various ensembles as the opportunity arises. I can't describe what "being a band geek again" has done for my life. I am thrilled to be playing with outstanding community members who also happen to be great musicians. We all do it for the love of making music and for the camaraderie.

Piratical Halloween