With a history that's almost 125 years in the making, Columbia Academy, now Columbia Adventist Academy, opened in 1903.
Music has played an integral part in its history. Two school songs have added to that history with the latest one written by Lee Pyke, CAA student in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Sung every alumni weekend, the song has made a return to Thursday chapels with Randy Wiedemann, CAA teacher and musician, leading out in directing a renaissance of its performance. The lyrics tell of CAA's surrounding beauty and core values it aspires to emulate.
Doug Schmidt '80, CAA shop instructor and Boys’ Club sponsor, has also resurrected and reintroduced the Boys’ Club song. Many have been blessed by these songs, whether in the context of creating community or shaping students into the people they’ve become.
Throughout the years, handbells, quartets, brass ensembles and special groups have played an important role in the mission of the school. During Alumni Weekend 2024, the 50-year class sponsored the afternoon program. One of the highlights was the class of '74 senior men’s quartet performing several songs after a five-decade hiatus.
More recently, Three for Him, another CAA group created in the 1970s, participated in an Orangevale Adventist Church service in California. Stan Snyder '79, Brad Davis '79 and Sherilyn Wysong-Holm '80 retraced all the ways in which God had put their musical reunion together. They were not only blessed, but also amazed at the goodness of God, His timing and His directing.
The story of music and CCA isn’t confined to singing and instrumental groups, however. As a CAA student and musician, Kurtis Lamberton '09 led out in praise music and performing music in other venues.
As a business owner, he combined his love of engineering and music and founded his company, Lambertones, where he develops and manufactures equipment to make electric guitar pickups. Lamberton's work has led to increased tone quality, resulting in a better-sounding instrument. The music and lives of many have been blessed by his work, and his church community is just one of the many recipients of his blessings and gifts.
At the beginning of the 2024–2025 school year, Aaron Payne, CAA chaplain and teacher, introduced the theme “Set Apart.” CAA believes that music has the power to lead its students in a direction that sets them apart. As CAA uses music to bless the lives of others, it knows that it, too, will be greatly blessed.
Three for Him was a CAA musical group in the 70s. Recently, some of the members celebrated a reunion after nearly 50 years.
Kurtis Lamberton '09 took his love for music and combined it with his love for engineering to start Lambertones, a company specializing in handmade guitar pickups that are lauded for their excellent tone quality and craftsmanship.
