Emma Covill is a creative spirit exuding a zest for music, dance and painting.

The budding artist, a Columbia Falls High School senior, has refined her talents through extracurriculars in which she has participated over her high school career.

When she’s not focused on painting, she plays trumpet in the select Columbians and Jazz Factory school bands and in a Kalispell community band. Her musical talent occasionally extends to singing, sometimes to the big band music of the Don Lawrence Orchestra.

“Don used to be a conductor here at the high school,” Covill said. “He actually conducted my dad when he was in the Columbians.”  

Covill also has an athletic side and plays golf, tennis, soccer and dances.

The 17-year-old enjoys jazz and big band-era music on the dance floor in a club that primarily focuses on swing, fox trot, waltz and two-step dances. The school’s physical education classes also did a unit on swing dancing for students prior to prom.

“We’ve got some pretty impressive moves down,” Covill said.

This year, her hard work paid off as Covill and a couple of other classmates rallied prom-goers to cut a rug to the swing dance tune “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

“At prom I’ve always tried to get them to play swing dance music but the D.J. never does, but this year we actually got them to play one. It was so fun because usually at prom, teenagers dance — like — teenagers, and so it’s funny seeing how everyone all of a sudden didn’t know what to do,” Covill said. 

She and another prom-goer hit the dance floor to get things started. 

“Everyone tried it and I looked around and they all looked like they were having a blast. I loved it, it was like the best part of senior year,” Covill said.

Covill defines school spirit as getting classmates involved and inspiring others to pursue school activities. 

“I hope to inspire people. I think that’s the most important thing that music and art do. It gets you to think and feel,” Covill said.

In addition to music and dance, Covill likes photography and graphic design. She was able to use those skills by working on the yearbook. Many parents and students rely on her photography skills for senior portraits or shots of athletes.

“Ever since I was a freshman I’d go to every basketball game, every football game and take pictures of the whole thing just for fun and put them on the Internet. Now, this year I was able to use the pictures in the yearbook. I share them with parents because they love having pictures of their kids,” Covill said.

As graduation nears, Covill is busy as ever painting graduation caps.

“People give me an idea they want and give me free reign to do whatever. I have like 20. It’s a busy job,” Covill said. “There’s never a dull moment.”

In the fall, Covill will attend Watkins School of Art Design and Film in Nashville, Tenn., to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis on painting. She also would like to form a small jazz band or trio for fun. 

As a career, Covill envisions several options, either working at a university or advertising company doing graphic design work, owning a painting/photography studio or creating or organizing a nonprofit to travel around the world teaching art to children who don’t have access to art materials.

“I hope that my art will make a difference for someone,” Covill said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].