Sunset Stories

For composer Carleton Macy, Sunset School was more than a place to learn reading, writing and arithmetic. It was where a teacher introduced him to music and helped shape the course of his life.

In 1956, Carleton moved to Carmel and enrolled in sixth grade at Sunset School in Mrs. Sproull's class.

He remembers playing marbles and softball with classmates on the school playfield, an area that has since become a parking lot. He also recalls good teachers and the friendships he enjoyed during his time at Sunset.

But one memory stands above the rest.

It was at Sunset School that Carleton met Art Holman, a music teacher whose enthusiasm would have a lasting impact on his life.

During early morning sessions in Holman's basement office, located at the bottom of Sunset Theater, Carleton learned to play the trumpet.

Those lessons became the beginning of something much bigger.

What started as a young student's introduction to an instrument eventually developed into a lifelong passion for music. Carleton went on to become a composer, a creative pursuit he continues today.

Looking back, he credits Art Holman's encouragement and enthusiasm for helping set him on that path.

As Sunset Center celebrates its centennial, Carleton's story is a powerful reminder of the building's long history as a place of artistic discovery.

Decades before Sunset became the cultural destination it is today, music was already shaping lives within its walls.

For Carleton, the connection between Sunset's past and present is especially meaningful. The same historic building where he first learned to play the trumpet continues to bring music and artistic experiences to the community.

His story reminds us that a dedicated teacher, a young student and a simple music lesson can create an impact that lasts a lifetime.