Boardman Moore

For nearly seven decades Boardman W. Moore has played the trumpet.  For the last six years of this impressive stretch he has volunteered in Stanley's music department at least twice a week and worked with youngsters just beginning their own lifelong love affair with music.

“My dad suggested I might want to play the cornet when I was about 12,” said Moore, who was born in 1920 and grew up in Palo Alto. “I went into the band that fall. Looking back, I didn't have ten percent of the musicianship and instruction Stanley kids get.  It was really bush league.”

Childhood Inspiration

But what came of his childhood interest were two important friendships and an ongoing passion for music. When Moore was 6 years old he went to a local church to hear a 12-year-old trumpet virtuoso. That talented youngster, Charles R. Bubb, inspired him to pick up the instrument and eventually became one of his best friends and principal trumpet of the San Francisco Symphony. Later Moore's music teacher paired him, a 13-year-old beginner, with another student named Felix Natis, a high school sophomore whom Moore describes as a trumpet “artist.” Natis went on to the Eastman School of Music and remains a close friend to this day.

“Music,” said Moore, “influenced my life tremendously, starting with these friendships. It's a bonding element in your life you'd be much, much poorer without.”

Moore grew up, finished college at Stanford and became a Chevron engineer who never let go of music. He settled in Lafayette in 1948 and served on the local school board for 17 years, including 14 years as chairman.

Variety Act

He remembers the days when the district's teachers and school board members performed in “The Spartan Review,” an annual variety show. The first year Moore danced the Charleston and the last year he played the “Echo Waltz” on his trumpet with his son and Joe Disch, the Bob Athayde of that era. Following in Dad's footsteps, Boardman T. Moore had picked up the trumpet. He played for Stanley, Acalanes High School and Stanford in the university's symphony.

Never Miss a Band

More than 20 years later the elder Moore was lured back to Stanley by the sound of a practicing band.  He was walking his wolfhounds on the Regional Trail near the school when he heard telltale melodious blasts and a thumping bass.

“I can never not go where I hear a band playing,” he said.

He strolled to the door of the band room and was invited in by Bob Athayde, who had taken the helm of the music department 14 years  before. One thing led to another and Moore became a familiar sight around the building, hanging up backpacks, repairing instruments, teaching students how to use the computer, working on their technique and testing kids on instruments.  Happily for the band, Moore has developed a real knack for finding potential tuba players.  He starts by looking in the flute section.

“It all comes down to the diameter of the pipe the musician is blowing through,” he said. “A flute's is close to a tuba's.”

Many Hats/Many Rewards

Moore's volunteer role as talent scout, teacher, coach and cheerleader suits him just fine in his senior years, a time when many would find adequate pleasure in simply listening to music.

“I really like working with the kids and bring enthusiasm to the job,” he said.  "I get a big bang out of it. I enjoy seeing two or three kids from the same family coming through the program or running into students in the grocery store or on the trail when I'm walking my dogs.”

But there are other benefits that flow from this volunteer job, especially for someone who has never satisfied his hunger to grow as a musician.

“I've learned more music helping Bob (Athayde) than I've learned in all my previous years,” said Moore, who's especially thrilled with what he has picked up from visiting symphony-level musicians.  “I just glory in learning from all these wonderful people, including those who teach here. The kids at Stanley are absolutely blessed with an incredible program.”