“Ever since I can remember, music has been a fundamental part of my life in school,” he said. “Even in elementary school, when music would rotate as a weekly ‘special,’ it was always the thing I looked forward to the most.” -Finn McGuire, PCHS Class of 2026
When we spoke with Finn McGuire, a Park City High School senior who’s spent much of his school career involved in music and theater programs, one thing really stood out: the access students have to explore their interests is exceptional within Park City schools. Music is introduced at an early age, and for Finn, that early exposure has grown into a lasting passion – one he plans to continue studying in college.
“Ever since I can remember, music has been a fundamental part of my life in school,” he said. “Even in elementary school, when music would rotate as a weekly ‘special,’ it was always the thing I looked forward to the most.”
By sixth grade, students were required to join band, orchestra or choir. That’s when Finn started exploring different instruments.
“I started playing violin because my older sister, Hailey, played, so I thought it was what I wanted to do,” he said. “About three weeks into orchestra, I decided to switch to band and began playing flute. Then in seventh grade, I started playing clarinet kind of by accident – I forgot my flute on the first day of school so Mrs. Morgan handed me a clarinet.”
By eighth grade, Finn was all in. “I was a member of the marching band, pep band, concert band, jazz band, and the philharmonic orchestra,” he said.
Playing four to five instruments in a given week isn’t something you expect to hear from a high school student, but it makes sense in a district that prioritizes access and values opportunities in the arts.
“I was lucky to be able to try and play more instruments than my family could have afforded,” Finn shared. “I’ve grown up in a community where the education foundation helps fund programs and makes sure they’re accessible to all students.”
That same access extends to theater, where Finn found another creative and leadership outlet. This year’s musical, 9 to 5, brought together almost 90 students across cast, crew and orchestra, and gave him the chance to participate as Pit Conductor.
He credits teachers like Mrs. Morgan in junior high, and Mr. Taylor, Mr. Giddings and Mr. Silverman in high school for inspiring and challenging him along the way.
After graduation, Finn plans to continue studying music at the University of Utah, where he’ll major in clarinet performance – the same instrument he picked up in middle school almost by accident and has been playing ever since.
His advice for students?
“If you even want to try something a little, just do it in school,” he said. “I can take a class like AP Music Theory now with great teachers, or I could take it in college and pay thousands of dollars. Even if you don’t pursue a career in music or the arts, that exposure and the chance to try is so incredibly important.”
PCEF donors support the arts throughout every school, including grant funding for PCHS Music and PCHS Theater.
