Slight Detour: Talent Tuesday

I always like a great photo or painting of Lincoln School, my grade school alma mater.

Randy Wilhelm painted this, and why not? Like me, he also attended grade school there.

Then, when it turned into the Lake Pend Oreille High Alternative School, he taught inside the building.

Randy was always a beloved teacher who took a personal interest in each of his students.

And, now retired, he's having more time for another of his passions: art.

Those who know him are all happy that he's retired and busy in the community.

Artwork by Randy Wilhelm showing Lake Pend Oreille High School. Wilhelm was a long-time teacher at the school until his retirement in June 2025.

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Opening Reception: Three Decades of Coloring Outside the Lines by Randy Wilhelm.

Come and check out this post-retirement retrospective by Randy Wilhelm.

This exhibition highlights artwork spanning three decades and honors Randy's 27 years of teaching at Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School, where he inspired generations of students to take risks, think creatively, and color outside of the lines.

Don't miss it on Friday, Feb. 6 at the POAC Gallery, 313 N. Second Ave. from 5-7 p.m. All are welcome.

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When I asked my former student Jeremy Birdsall to send me a couple of paragraphs about his experience at the Grammys on Sunday, I knew he was busy.

Indeed, he was, as he flew back to Florida from Los Angeles first thing yesterday morning after his night at the Grammys.

But Jeremy is and always has been an upbeat and gracious guy. By late afternoon, he had texted me and said he had put something together.

I told him that I was thrilled and that anything he wrote was fine.

So, here's some more information about the 1994 Sandpoint High graduate who is fast becoming a Grammy veteran.

From Jeremy

I've been writing and performing music since I was 12. Sandpoint High School choir director Jon Brownell and band director Tom Walton constantly pushed me to hone my craft as a pianist, bassist, vocalist and arranger.

I'm forever grateful to them for not accepting laziness or mediocrity and encouraging me to always be better than I was yesterday

I graduated from the University of Idaho (Go Vandals!) in 1998 with a degree in Music Composition.

As a composer, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, instrumentalist, vocalist and artist, I have been a voting member of the Recording Academy since 2017.

This year was my 3rd Grammy Awards to attend in person. It is a fairly surreal experience to be in the same room as such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Joni Mitchell, and so many more!

My favorite aspect of the actual awards show is learning and discovering remarkable new artists that I might never have heard before and get to see their performances live and in person!

It has been an enriching and rewarding experience to work with some of the best in the entertainment industry.

I have been beyond blessed to have a variety of experiences in this business, including writing music for ESPN, NFL, NBA, and to play multiple instruments on stages across the US and Europe, and this year I sang on a Grammy nominated album!

Bio Info: Jeremy Birdsall is a member of the recording Academy/Grammys, a Grammy U mentor, and a Grammy Advocacy Day Captain.

He serves as a judge for the NAACP's national ACT-SO competition in the Music Composition and Music: Instrumental Performance categories.

Jeremy lives with his wife Lynn and their two cats, Jackie Chan and Snow Pea in Orlando, Florida.

He is an endorsing artist with Aguilar Amplification, Korg, Vox, Dark Glass, InEarz, Gator Cases, Gold Tone Instruments, and DR Strings, and he is a proud alumni of Sandpoint High School Class of 1994!

Go Bulldogs!

Aaron and Jeremy Birdsall.

And, if that isn't enough, Jeremy comes from a very talented family. His brother Aaron, with whom he often collaborates, also attended the Grammys on Sunday.

This morning Jeremy sent me some fascinating information about Aaron.

So, here goes from our back and forth texting: Yes, my brother Aaron attended the Grammys this year with me! Aaron went to SHS from 95 to 98, and got his GED.

Became a nurse in the Army, and then studied music composition, and voice at NIC and Audio Engineering at Video Symphony in LA.

Aaron has been an active part of the film and TV industry in the Spokane area. He worked on dozens of films and TV shows, most recently including Train Dreams, which is up for four Oscars this year.

He has also produced hundreds of artists in his recording studio in Coeur d'Alene.

Aaron started a sibling band called "Flying Mammals," with our brothers James and Andy Birdsall. Flying Mammals toured all over the US & Canada and released four albums.

I joined the band on Flying Mammals' fourth album, VIER (German for "Four," as it was their fourth album.

I was the fourth member, and German because we recorded this album in a castle in Germany, with Sylvia Massy (Prince, Johnny Cash, System of a Down, Tool) producing and engineering.

Aaron is a co-writer with me on my work with ESPN, and we also have an original project we are working on now about how we both experience synesthesia and how that relates to music.

[Synesthesia is a harmless, usually lifelong neurological trait (affecting 1–4% of people) where stimulation of one sense triggers involuntary, consistent experiences in another, such as tasting shapes, seeing colors when hearing music, or associating letters with colors].

In addition to his work in film & TV and writing and producing music, Aaron has also launched a new Queen tribute project, "Champions Under Pressure," and Aaron plays Freddie Mercury! Their next show is Saturday, March 7th at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane.

Thank you so much, Jeremy, for sharing some of your busy schedule with me so that I could share this story.

As noted, you are a true gentleman.

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The Flying Mammals