By Jim Bloch
The East China Performing Arts Center is now the David Simpson Performing Arts Center.
The new name honors Simpson, the PAC’s manager, sound man, lighting tech and general theater guru, who died Feb. 26 of cholangiocarinoma, an aggressive form of bile duct cancer. He was 45.
Micha Volz, the director of bands at St. Clair High School, and Scott Fryer, the band director at the middle school, oversaw the first performance at the PAC under its new name: The Saints Spectacular, held March 13, featuring the sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands of St. Clair Middle School and the symphonic band, jazz band, sax quartet and wind ensemble of St. Clair High School. The evening also featured two performances by classical and flamenco guitarist Mert Sela, a native of Turkey.
“It’s been hitting us hard that David Simpson is gone,” said Volz from the stage.
The PAC is the center of theatre, band, choir and community performances for the East China School District. It debuted 21 years ago.
“Dave was central to the opening of the beautiful East China Performing Arts Center in 2004,” according to his obituary.
The performing arts were the love of Simpson’s professional life.
“An actor and theater lover since junior high, Dave was known by all as ‘Saint Dave” in the Eisenhower High School Theater Program,” said his obituary. “He went on to attend and graduate from Oakland University with a degree in Theatre Production and Design. Dave’s talent and hard work led him to the East China School District” where he managed the PAC.
Simpson was affectionately known as PAC Man. He “made thousands of students look and sound great with his impeccable attention to detail in sound, light and stage design,” his obituary said. “All were safe and cared for because Dave was there.”
“This renaming serves as a lasting testament to his profound impact on the arts in our schools and on every person who passed through these doors,” said Volz in memorial comments he included in the program for the Saints Spectacular.
The three middle school bands performed 6-7 p.m. The high school bands, plus Sela, performed 7:30-9 p.m.
Volz noted that modeling one’s behavior after another’s behavior is a profound form of respect.
“If we are honoring David Simpson, we must be kind, we must use our talents to their full potential, we must act with integrity, we must be adventurous, we must share our talents with the world and we must inspire the next generation of artists and creators,” Volz wrote.
Volz looked around the handsome auditorium, noting that it looked as spectacular today as it did when it opened — largely thanks to Simson.
As if symbolizing rebirth, the symphonic band and the wind ensemble played two songs by Katahj Copley and the symphonic band and the combined bands played two songs by Cait Nishimura, two young composers. Copley earned a master’s degree in composition from the University of Texas-Austin in 2023. Nishimura holds degrees in education and composition from the University of Toronto.
“These songs have been composed within the last two years,” Volz said. “So, you’re among the first ever to hear these pieces.”
The song titles were thematically evocative of the dedication – Copley’s “Halcyon Hearts,” Nishimura’s “The Nature of Trees,” Copley’s “Everglow” and Nishimura’s “The Journey Begins.”
“We dedicate this performance to David Simpson,” said Volz.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
