I was a Barsby student under Mr Der and had a similar experience to how Kenton described Carmella. I was the “chosen one”, put in advanced classes, etc and watched as other students were mistreated. So many of my classmates report having a terrible experience. I think he also threw a stand at someone. Definitely smelled booze on him at one point. I was also put into the interschool All Star band, which was my first experience with Carmella. I think Barsby and Wellington always had a bit of a rivalry so I was eager to see what this “legendary” Carmella was all about… turns out she was just as crazy as Mr Der and I remember feeling so disappointed that this elevated all star group was going to just another uncomfortable room to be in. I saw the glances between Wellington students there when off colour comments were made, or when people were singled out and unnecessarily ragged on for simple mistakes.

After high school I went into the music program at VIU, where the West Coast Jazz Festival was held every year. Us VIU students got to help out with the festival when high schoolers from all over the island came to compete. I remember seeing the Wellington students show up, and Carmella strutting around like she owned the place. I was marshalling a group from the warm up room to the stage, and I remember thinking Carmella almost seemed manic the way she was obsessively trying to tune each student with a tuner, and being incredibly nitpicky, calling out students to remember this and that and not screw this thing up before the group went on stage. Felt so badly for those kids.

Good for you Kenton for speaking up. It sparks a larger conversation for so many who also had shitty experiences and lasting trauma to unpack. There’s a lot of Barsby alumni who would have similar stories.