Alicia Draper Upton was one of the craziest, wackiest, most amazing band directors anyone could have had. I owe some of my absolute favorite moments in High School to her and her ridiculous antics. I owe some of my deepest friendships to her. You’ll be unbelievably missed, Mrs. Upton. Wish I could’ve laughed with you one more time.
I am absolutely devastated tonight to hear about the passing of Alicia Draper Upton. Mrs. Upton was one of my safe spaces from 6th grade through the rest of high school and beyond. Because of her quirks and anxieties she understood mine and made me feel comfortable and rooted for. It is so rare to have a constant like her for such a long time in a school career. She watched me and us grow up and become better musicians and students and people and gave us the space to grow while also urging us to succeed. She picked us up when we needed it but also didn’t get let us get away with being lazy and sloppy.
One year, I spent a semester teaching myself “Funky Town” by ear. She never got upset when I tested it out on breaks but encouraged me to keep searching for the melody. The next year before the school year started, she sent us the halftime sheet music for that year’s football season and it included a shortened version of Funky Town that she had found for me with a very encouraging and loving note. She believed in me and us at every Solo and Ensemble competition and always let us know how proud she was to be our conductor.
I don’t know what this community of musicians and students will do without her incredibly unique style of conducting and teaching and loving but I know we will never find it again.
We will miss you so much, Mrs. Upton. You are so so loved and respected.
