By Matthew Nash
Olympic Peninsula News Group
SEQUIM — Vern Fosket, 57, is a familiar face at the Sequim Irrigation Festival.
Despite living in Sequim 19 years, he’s marched through the festival’s grand parade close to 30 times, starting with the South Kitsap All-District marching band and some years twice with both the Sequim Middle and High school bands.
This year, he’s taking a backseat in style, riding in a convertible at the parade May 13 as Grand Marshal in the festival’s 122nd year.
Fosket said he’s marched through a lot of parades, but Sequim’s always is well-attended start to finish.
“It’s nice being the hometown band, knowing everyone along the parade route from former students to parents,” he said.
Fosket was born in Everett and raised in Lake Stevens. He and his family moved from Port Orchard 19 years ago so he could lead the band programs at Sequim Middle and High.
He and his wife, Lynn, have three daughters and two grandchildren. His earliest memory of Sequim is taking his girls to the Olympic Game Farm.
The passion for music began in junior high for Fosket, playing trombone.
“I really connected with music at that point,” he said. “I knew in high school that teaching music is what I wanted to do.”
He went to college at Seattle Pacific University and said he paid his way through college, playing electric bass at gigs. Along with trombone and bass, he also plays brass instruments and the drums.
Since he’s been in Sequim, he’s led student performances at Disneyland; the Macy’s Parade in Seattle; Husky Band Day; the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho; the state solo and ensemble competition; and others.
“I’ve always wanted kids to have the opportunities to do lots of things, be it go to state events, go to Anaheim, do parades around the state and be part of major events,” Fosket said.
“That’s what I created. We’ve had good parent and administrative support.”
Sequim has been a “wonderful place to raise kids,” he said.
When not leading the local bands, Fosket loves to hike, bike and lead music at Olympic View Church of God.
The Sequim Irrigation Festival runs May 5-14.
For more information about the Irrigation Festival, visit www. irrigationfestival.com.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@ sequimgazette.com.
