Alicia Draper Upton was one of the craziest, craziest, most amazing band directors anyone could have. I owe some of my favorite high school moments to her and her ridiculous antics. I owe her some of my deepest friendships. You will be incredibly missed, ma'am. Upton. I wish I could laugh with you one more time.
I am absolutely devastated tonight to hear of the death of Alicia Draper Upton. Mrs. Upton was one of my safe spaces from sixth grade through the rest of high school and beyond. Because of her quirks and anxieties she understood mine and made me feel comfortable and grounded. It is so rare to have a regular like her for so long in a school career. She saw me and us grow and become better musicians and students and people and gave us the space to grow while pushing us to succeed. She picked us up when we needed it but also didn't let us get away with being lazy and sloppy.
One year, I spent a semester teaching myself “Punky Town” by ear. She never got upset when I checked it at breaks, but encouraged me to keep looking for the tune. The following year before the school year started, she sent us the halftime pages for that year's football season and it included a shortened version of Funky Town that she found for me with a very encouraging and loving tone. She believed in me and our son in every solo and ensemble competition and always let us know how proud she was to be our winner.
I don't know what this community of musicians and students would do without her incredibly unique style of conducting and teaching and loving, but I know we'll never find it again.
We will miss you so much, ma'am. Upton. You are so loved and respected.
