John Tesh, a 1970 graduate of Garden City High School, and well-known television and radio personality, on Jan. 16, will be releasing his latest album, Pure Orchestra, through his record label, Garden City Music.

Pure Orchestra, according to Tesh, is different from his other albums, which include Pure Hymns, Pure Movies 2, and John Tesh: One World. While with his other releases, Tesh has either composed the songs or compiled other well-known musicians' performances, with Pure Orchestra, Tesh put together an orchestra of over 60 members and had them perform works of various New Age musicians such as Enya, Yanni, Kenny G, and Jim Brickman. Tesh himself was one of the composers featured in this project.

Tesh, who along with Allen Wollard and Connie Sellecca, Tesh's wife, served as executive producer of this album, said this project came about because he and those he works with are always trying to come up with new ideas, and because New Age instrumental artists do not tend to collaborate, the idea of bringing their work together to be performed by an orchestra was new. "I don't know why that is, but I think they've written some of the most beautiful melodies, especially Enya and Yanni whose music has been used in many different soundtracks and people don't even know it," said Tesh.

According to Tesh he felt that the melodies of these musicians were so strong that he wanted to see them all put together and played by an orchestra, a mode he was very familiar with. In order to accomplish this project Tesh put together the orchestra, selected the songs, and received the composers' permission to use the songs. Though he said his main role was as producer of this album, Tesh wanted to contribute as well, so he composed two of the songs.

Tesh noted that this project was a "very expensive proposition, which is why nobody's really done it before." Tesh believes that this project further "legitimizes" New Age musicians. He noted that often the term "New Age" is used pejoratively, and added that these melodies speak for themselves.

An award-winning composer, much of Tesh's work is piano-based but he also studied trumpet and trombone while a student at Garden City High School. While in high school, said Tesh, "I played in all the orchestras and dance bands and everything those guys could throw at me."

When asked why his record company is called Garden City Music, though it is located in Los Angeles. Tesh who lived in Garden City until he was 18, responded, "I have a real fondness for that period of time in my life." He said that while many people may say that they did not like high school, for him it was "a very musical time." He noted that he was in everything whether it involved marching, dancing, or orchestra and played in several rock 'n roll bands.

Garden City had a major impact on his life, which is why it has been featured in many of his different projects, explained Tesh. In addition to Garden City Music, Tesh released an album called Garden City several years ago, which featured a song by the same name which was at one time the #1 instrumental song.

While a student in the Garden City schools (he attended Hemlock, Stewart, Garden City Junior High School, and Garden City High School) Tesh was selected for the All-State Symphonic Orchestra. "The music program at Garden City was pretty amazing," said Tesh. "It was every bit as good as any college program."

Following his graduation from Garden City High School, Tesh went on to North Carolina State at Raleigh, where he studied communications and music. Since that time Tesh has become well-known, through his television and radio work. Though he is widely known for his time as the host of Entertainment Tonight and NBC's One on One With John Tesh, in 1995 Tesh made an impact with his first PBS special, Live at Red Rocks which is ranked as one of the most successful fund raising programs for PBS and became a gold album and a double platinum home video. In March 1999, Tesh's second PBS special John Tesh: One World was another worldwide hit. He is a respected interviewer who has won six Emmy awards and an associated press award for investigative journalism. In addition to his other accomplishments, he has over 25 albums to his credit, including two gold albums, has more than a dozen Top 10 records, and three #1 radio hits.

When asked what he would like to say to the people of Garden City, Tesh stated, "I've traveled the world many, many times over and I have a 6-year-old and a 19-year-old stepson and I think the folks in Garden City should realize how amazing the school system is and continue to support it because there are a lot of systems out there that are half of what that is. I think sometimes when you live in a community your whole life you're like, 'Yeah, we're going to Garden City High School, whatever,' but when I went to college my first two years were simple for me because of all the advanced placement courses that are offered at G.C. High and all the sports programs as well. They are all so advanced that you end up getting, really, a private school education or better."