(425) 460-3300
Kantorei 2006
Blake DeYoung ('93)
Chief Advancement Officer

Joel Ulrich. Kathy Boone. Joann Grambush. Lowell Hagan. Charlie Brown.

Ask Bellevue Christian alumni to name teachers that had the greatest influence on them, and these are among the names you are likely to hear. Each of these, among others, also shaped the Arts programs at BCS for years. Mr. Brown came in 1960 and stayed for 60 years. Mr. Hagan came in ’68 and served for 39 years. Mr. Ulrich, after graduating in ’65, returned in ’69 and stayed until ‘08. Ms. Grambush arrived in ’90 and stayed until ’17. Ms. Boone arrived in ’84 and directed bands for 21 total years until retiring in 2020. 


Mr. Ulrich and Mr. Brown, 1977 (right)

These titans have turned over the stewardship of the Arts to a new generation of Bellevue Christian teachers, a group that has all the capability to take these programs to new heights. Someday, we’ll be reflecting on the contributions of people like Bethany Drake, Amber Cass, and Mandy Fiechtner in the visual Arts; of William Tollefson, Kai Hedin, Jodi Salzman, and Daniel Nollan in Music; of Mark Ramquist and Amy Shockey in Theatre. 

The Arts have a special place at Bellevue Christian School. They are a unique way to express worship to God and, being designed in His image, to mimic His creative works. For a school which believes that the goal of Christian education is discipleship, the Arts also represent a potent opportunity to discover gifts. Along with Athletics, the Arts represent a chance for students to perform, to exhibit their evolving gifts in a way that demonstrates growth and accomplishment.

Second Sight, Mr. Hagan’s 2000 book on the foundations of BCS, puts it this way:

“It is difficult for students to unwrap their gifts if they are processed through a standardized curriculum that expects the same kind of products from everyone…We have fostered the development of a school climate in which it is acceptable for an athlete to be also a scholar and a musician, if God has given her those gifts…The school years should be times of exploration, of venturing into the untried and the unknown. That is often how gifts are discovered…The music program at BCS is not trying to create future opera singers, any more than the athletic program is trying to create future professional athletes. For those who do have extraordinary gifts, however, we aim to provide the opportunity to develop those gifts and to learn the place them at the service of Jesus Christ.”
Mr. Hagan as Tevya in "Fiddler on the Roof" with BCS students in 1986.
At Bellevue Christian, the Arts program is for everyone. Our teachers graciously redirect the child who says, “I’m not an artist. I can’t do that.” As current Art Teacher Bethany Drake said to one frustrated student last year, after he insisted his art was bad, “I just need you to make some bad art!” Because first, there is no “bad” art – our art is an appreciative expression of some form of the creation, and as such, it pleases Him. No matter how bad we think it is, it honors the one who made it. Second, better art always follows. The Arts – and all other forms of expression – benefit from practice, from the perseverance that comes when we look at our first attempt and think, how can I make this better? 





Concert Band, 1995
And therefore, the Arts, especially at a young age, are so valuable. Mr. Hagan is right: the point isn’t to create future opera singers. The point is to take the lesson of artistic expression – as an act of worship, as an act of discovery, as an act of perseverance – and apply it to whatever does wind up being a student’s area of giftedness and purpose. We don’t want only our artists to look at something they’ve created and ask how they can make it better. We also want that of our engineers, our pastors, our writers, our attorneys, our programmers, and all who serve in other vocations to look at something and say, how can I make that better?

Of course, sometimes the student does discover that their gifting is in the Arts. Ask Andrea Overturf, ‘01. Or Sarah McIntyre, ’93. Or Taylor Begert, ‘04. Or any of the myriad Bellevue Christian alumni making contributions to the Arts. Our program must be able to help those students achieve their goals and enrich the lives of others through artistic expression.

Expansion and strengthening of the Arts at Bellevue Christian is critically important, and that’s why our “Raise the Paddle” initiative at this year’s Auction will benefit our Arts programs. This year’s Auction will be a unique opportunity for any and all friends of BCS to “attend” our hour-long, free, live-streamed event from 7-8pm on Saturday, March 20. Assistant Principal Mike Olson will emcee, attendees can bid on a small handful of live auction items, and we will enjoy several performances and a new video celebrating the importance of the Arts at BCS. I hope you will consider joining us online for this event.

The Arts are a critical component to discipleship and the discovery of purpose at Bellevue Christian. If your life was impacted by these teachers and you’d like to share a story or send a note of gratitude, I encourage you to reach out to them directly. If you don’t know how to reach them, let us know and we’ll get you pointed in the right direction. 
Blake DeYoung, ‘93
Chief Advancement Officer
BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN | WITH PURPOSE
1701 98th Ave NE, Clyde Hill, WA 98004
425.454.4402 x1200
Ellie VerGowe ('06)

Pastor of Outreach, Worship and Family


Hanne Sandison ('06)

Attorney - The Advocates for Human Rights

Kyrie Anderson ('13)

Medical Student
Weill Cornell Medicine

Jeffrey Peterson ('14)

Data & Analytics Coordinator Union Gospel Mission


Access our library of alumni stories by clicking here.

If you have a story to share or a connection with an alum we could feature, please email bcsalumni@bellevuechristian.org.
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