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<\/p>\nA lineup of special musical events and awards presentations from May 27 to 29 will pay tribute to Mike Cook\u2019s 35 years as director of instrumental music at Poway High School.<\/p>\n
Three send-off activities will celebrate Cook\u2019s retirement at the end of the school year on Friday, June 5.<\/p>\n
Cook has taught students in The Emerald Brigade marching band, wind ensemble, concert band, orchestra, jazz ensembles and the spring musical pit orchestra. The 61-year-old said he has enjoyed his years preparing for performances, helping students develop their skills and working together as a family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching that happen and moving that along is what it\u2019s all about for me,\u201d the Poway resident said. \u201cThe real reason I lasted as long as I did was because the parents, students and community were all pulling in the same direction. Their willingness to help allowed me to not worry about some things. It just really helped me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Miranda Allen of Wildly Free Photography<\/p>\n
Mike Cook plans to retire June 5 after 35 years of teaching music at Poway High. (Miranda Allen of Wildly Free Photography)<\/p>\n
His wife, Trish Feaster Cook, said her husband\u2019s legacy is bigger than his role as a longtime music teacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe uses music as a medium to help teach his students to become better citizens of the world,\u201d she said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t just improve their skills as musicians but he shows them how to be a team member, how to work together to reach a common goal, how to connect to someone who is struggling and how to reach out if they are that person who is struggling.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the music skills are important but overall the students are becoming better people through the music program and they are also helping others to become better people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The upcoming celebrations will be presented by the Poway High Instrumental Music Department and the school\u2019s Music Boosters, who consist of supportive family members. The events will be held at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.<\/p>\n
The first is a Final Orchestra Concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27. Four pieces selected to be performed by students will resemble a pops night, Feaster Cook said. The pieces will be Selections from \u201cPhantom of the Opera\u201d; \u201cChicago\u201d: A Medley; the suite from \u201cVideo Games Live\u201d; and \u201cBack to the Future\u201d suite.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, May 28, The Final Concert Band & Wind Ensemble Concert is set for 7 p.m. Students will be performing three pieces accessible to a wide audience, Feaster Cook said. They are \u201cOpening Night on Broadway,\u201d \u201cDisney at the Movies\u201d and \u201cGroovitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
The featured soloist that evening will be senior Coral Kosiba, who will perform \u201cLa Flute de Pan\u201d on the flute. As a four-year member of Poway High\u2019s Instrumental Music program and this year\u2019s band president, Kosiba has performed with the concert band, wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, jazz ensembles and The Emerald Brigade. She will be attending San Diego State University in the fall to pursue a degree in theater design and technology.<\/p>\n
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Courtesy Poway High School Music Boosters<\/p>\n
Poway High Music Instructor Mike Cook is shown conducting the concert band. (Courtesy Poway High School Music Boosters)<\/p>\n
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Courtesy Trish Feaster Cook<\/p>\n
Mike Cook and instrumental music students performed in the Church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini in Lucca, Italy in the spring of 2024. (Courtesy Trish Feaster Cook)<\/p>\n
![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PRN-L-MIKECOOK-05.jpg?w=620\")
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Courtesy Trish Feaster Cook<\/p>\n
Mike Cook, right, reflects with the pit orchestra of the spring musical \u201cCinderella\u201d in spring 2025. (Courtesy Trish Feaster Cook)<\/p>\n
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Courtesy Poway High School Music Boosters<\/p>\n
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Poway High Music Instructor Mike Cook is shown conducting the concert band. (Courtesy Poway High School Music Boosters)<\/p>\n