A Musical Legacy: Adam Cunningham Oral History, January 28, 2025

Adam Cunningham, the Carbon High Band Director, shares his life and musical journey in this oral history. Growing up in Taylorsville with parents from Carbon County who were heavily involved in the Carbon High Band Program, he was introduced to music early, starting piano at age five and clarinet in fifth grade. His parents made musical participation a firm requirement, which led to him and all his siblings receiving college scholarships. Although he initially considered a career in Electrical or Robotics Engineering, a powerful experience in the All-State Band and a realization that he enjoyed working with people more than tedious math led him to pursue music education. His mentors included Paul Brown, who instilled a love for music theory, and Wayne Erickson, who gave him free private clarinet lessons and later recruited him to the music program at UVSC (now UVU). Cunningham's teaching career has included positions at Union High and Helper Middle School, and he discusses his current role building the successful Carbon High Marching Band and Archery programs, emphasizing the lasting musical heritage of the county as a key motivation for his return.