David Chavez-Hernandez Wins Linda Shoemaker Band Scholarship

Montclair State University bound David Chavez-Hernandez captured this year’s Linda Shoemaker Blue Devil Marching Band Scholarship, which carries with it a $1,000 stipend.

Mr. Chavez-Hernandez is an incredible performer and all-around talented teenager. He was Huntington’s 2022 Homecoming Day King. He has also starred in multiple high school drama club productions, serving as dance captain during three years of musicals. His commitment to the Blue Devil marching band was second to none.

Mr. Chavez is a genial fellow. He’s easy to get along with and he respects everyone. “Two of the many teachers who have made a difference or who I have an especially strong connection with are Ms. [Victoria] Garbarino and Mr. [Marlo] Romero,” he said last winter. “They’ve helped me learn new things about life and also helped me whenever I’ve been in need.” Ms. Garbarino leads the high school choral program and Mr. Romero teaches science.

“I want to go to college for musical theater,” Mr. Chavez said. “I would like to be on the stage performing.” The teenager is comfortable on stage and happy to stand before an audience.

Happiness and feeling good about yourself are important to Mr. Chavez. “People always think that you have to be a people pleaser and always do what people think is good,” he said. “You have to make sure you know what you want and what you want to do for yourself and not for others!”

An accomplished musician and Huntington UFSD music teacher, Ms. Shoemaker enjoyed a three decade long career as the Blue Devil marching band director. She died peacefully in her sleep on August 10, 2019 at the age of 76.

Born in Bell, California in September 1942, Ms. Shoemaker’s love of music and her talent was inherited from both sides of her family where there were music educators and opera singers, according to an obituary posted online. She saw her first parade at age four and fell in love.

Ms. Shoemaker began studying clarinet as a fourth grader and later marched during the opening ceremonies of Disneyland in Anaheim on July 17, 1955 and in four Tournament of Roses parades in Pasadena.

A graduate of Downey High School in Modesto, California, Ms. Shoemaker studied at Long Beach State for two years and then accepted a full scholarship as the first chair clarinet at the University of Nevada, Reno. She later moved to Columbus, Ohio and took classes at Ohio State while working in a music store there.

Ms. Shoemaker accepted a teaching position in Huntington UFSD in 1967, initial working at Flower Hill and Woodbury Avenue School. She later became the Finley Junior High School band director and moved to Huntington High School in 1982 where she spent 15 years as a teacher and marching band director before retiring in 1997.

An avid photographer, Ms. Shoemaker traveled across the country, especially enjoying multiple trips to Ireland and Kenya. She frequently attended concerts and performances of the New York Philharmonic, New York Opera and Metropolitan Opera. Among her favorite singers were Luciano Pavarotti, Beverly Sills, Renata Tebaldi, Maria Callas and Leontyne Price.