Michaela Dopico Wins Linda Shoemaker Band Scholarship

University of Delaware bound Michaela Dopica captured has this year’s Linda Shoemaker Blue Devil Marching Band Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 for the first year followed by $1,000 in each of the next three years.

A member of five separate academic honor societies and a Distinguished Senior, Ms. Dopica intends to pursue a major in music education in preparation for a career as a teacher.

“Throughout high school, my success has been driven by setting clear goals and maintaining a strong work ethic,” Ms. Dopico said. “Whether in academics or extracurriculars, focusing on what I wanted to achieve helped keep me motivated. I was also lucky to have a strong support system of friends, family and teachers who encouraged me along the way. When challenges arose, I learned to embrace them as opportunities to learn and grow. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Huntington High School and I’m so grateful the lasting friendships I’ve made.”

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, initially 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.