Bigfork High School music instructor seeks instruments for band

Randi Tunnell wants to be instrumental in building Bigfork High’s band.

Tunnell, 31, took over as Bigfork High School’s band and choir teacher in 2010.

Now in her fourth year, Tunnell is looking to build the program through her labor of love.

Tunnell grew up in Custer, Mont., and developed a love for music at a young age. Her mother, Kathy Ruff, was a big influence on Tunnell. Ruff, the music teacher at Custer High School, mentored Tunnell and her brother, Jeremy, who teaches band in Stevensville.

Tunnell began playing piano in second grade and trombome in fifth grade. Trombone is her instrument of choice.

She attended Montana State University-Billings for two years and later earned a graduate degree at the University of Akron after a professor at MSU-Billings got her an audition there. A scholarship followed.

Tunnell taught in Sandusky, Ohio, for two years and then moved to Darby with her husband, Adam. After two years there, the couple moved to the Flathead Valley when Randi got the job in Bigfork. She replaced Doug Peters, who had been the BHS band teacher for more than 20 years.

There are 120 band and choir students in Bigfork Middle and High schools. Two of Tunnell’s students — sophomore Ross Coleman and junior Carson Cantrell — were chosen to play in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City Nov. 28. Coleman will play trombone and Cantrell tenor sax.

Although she enjoys her job, Tunnell said it has its challenges. One of them is replacing and repairing instruments. “The instruments I have are 40 years old and they’re dying,” she said.

Tunnell said the program has seven good instruments and 30 in need of repair. Twelve are beyond repair and have been retired. She may use them to make a lamp or wall art.

Tunnell began a fundraising campaign last spring in an effort to replace and repair the instruments. Tunnell said the community’s response has been amazing. So far $3,000 have been raised. She needs another $7,000 to complete the project.

New instruments should last 30 years, she said, so that’s ideally what she’d like to do. A new bass clarinet and French horn are $2,500 each, she said.

So far BHS Band has purchased two used tenor saxes and a piccolo.

To donate, email rtunnell@bigfork.k12.mt.us or call Bigfork High School at 837-7420.

Donations can be sent to BHS Band, P.O. Box 188, Bigfork, MT 59911. Put “BHS Band” in the subject line of the check or write a note.