Andrew Bennett's Accomplishments

On Tuesday February 8th, thirteen high school band members represented our school at the Trailways South Conference Honors Band. It was held at Edgerton Performing Arts Center. The students who participated were Brett Miller, Josh Kupsche, Sierra Wirth, Chris Yezzi, Madison Graf, Tori Nizzi, Madeline Wenzel, Megan Karczewski, Noah Argus, Katie Woodward, Allison Reichert, Summer Manzke, and Arianna Wichman. The students rehearsed all day as a full band with Rick Kirby and performed later that night. It was a day filled with great music, collaborating, and lots of fun. The student performed four songs, “Three Colonial Moments”, “The Willows of the Winter,” “Call of The Wild,” and ‘Crown Imperial March.” The director of the honors band was

Music is a way for people to express themselves without having to make a drastic change. The reason I started to play music was because I love music in general to start off with and wanted the challenge of learning how to play an instrument. In sixth grade year there were probably 120 kids in band. Slowly through my band years many kids have dropped out. By the time I made it to the high school there were maybe 30 band students in, my grade and Mr. Rice the band director said, “They weren't able to handle it because band isn't easy.” One you have been in band you don't realize if you struggle or if you can't handle band and it's not a bad thing that students drop out of band. It just shows that they have decision making skills and don't want to hinder the other students acceleration in the class.

In the first grade, I picked up a clarinet. It was my sister’s, collecting dust while waiting for me to play it. From the moment I produced my first sound, an ear-piercing squeal that frightened my dog, the path of my life took a turn for the better. I began teaching myself for the following three years, along with learning from my sister how to properly play the beautiful instrument. The music pushed me out of my comfort zone: concerts that forced me onstage, tests that made me play difficult songs, and teachers that pushed me to be an exceptional player. From the shy elementary school student I used to be to the outgoing band member I take joy in being today, music has shaped my everyday life.

During my junior year, all high school students of the Coachella Valley were given the opportunity to audition for the All Coachella Valley Honor Band, with a guest conductor H. Robert Reynolds. This was a significant educational opportunity I took advantage of. The audition consisted of a couple of scales, and excerpts from the music that was going to be performed on the day of the concert. When the day came I sat in front of the judge with my music and clarinet, where my nerves began to rise. Before I began to play my heart began to pound along with my hands beginning to sweat. Throughout my audition I had a few mistakes,but I stayed persistent and completed my audition. After I finished my audition, the judge said I had done great, I was

I came to realize that playing music can bring someone great fortune. I had no plans for the future, no goals, nor dreams before I starting my path in music. I never wondered without direction. But one day, good fortune came to me. A fortune I would have never of thought of. It was The Gracias choir and music. I was thinking to myself “I have never been so happy nor have I had so much enjoyment to live. To have an open mind to people around the world by delivering my heart threw my music. It looks like a dream!"

Growing up I was always around musicians, and music interested me, but I was always steered towards more academics. I finally got into music in High-School. It made me rather nervous because here I was sitting in a room with people who basically played instruments and sung within the womb, and I was unable to even read music. So at first I asked my friends who were all music aficionados. Every second thing that came out of my mouth was a question about music. What was tone? How do I play a scale? What is moderato? And how on earth was I going to catch up to these kids? So especially in band I took control and I took my French horn home every weekend and practiced for hours, determined to meet my high standards.

I seemed to find my voice, and my teacher proposed the idea of me joining Circle of the State with Song. I gladly accepted the offer. It was considered the next level of proficiency in music at that age. Preparing for the exchange with other schools in a few months, one day there was auditions for the best of best to be in the Indiana All State Honor Choir. There were about twenty of us in Circle of the State with Song from Winamac. I thought I should audition for a spot because the worst they could tell me is that I did not make the cut. In the past, there have been little to nobody that had made all state, so it is quite an honor to be part of

I walked in and saw nobody I knew. I maybe knew one or two people, which wasn’t reassuring. I didn’t even know them, I had just seen them while I was a 6th grader. A few minutes after the auditions should have started the percussion director called roll to see if who all showed up. And as he called roll I only noticed that there weren't many 8th graders there, maybe eight or so; which was less than the previous year.

Now that I could see beyond the audition, I remembered why I had wanted to be in the ensemble in the first place, and I desperately wanted to know if I had made the cut. After what seemed like endless waiting, Mrs. Vermillion finally posted the list. My eyes immediately went to the Soprano column. When I saw my name, I hardly dared believe it. Slowly, the realization that this was not some mistake began to sink in. It was the most incredible feeling in the world, like I could have flown if I wanted to.

In seventh grade, I decided to audition for the higher ranking jazz ensemble at my middle school, Jazz I, one of the few bands in the school that had both seventh, and eighth graders. As always, I did a great job of finding things to worry about. Things such as what if I wasn’t good enough to be in the band? Since the moment that I picked up my dad’s trumpet and tried to play, I’ve loved playing. I wanted more than anything to be in the jazz band. We had played some jazz in band before, but nothing like what they play in Jazz I. I brought home the audition sheet the day that it got posted on the wall, and practiced every night until the audition. On the day of the audition, I walked into the room, greeted the teacher, and played through the sheet of scales and exercises as well as I could.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I auditioned for District III. District III is an organization of music educators in the region of Maine, spanning from Freeport to Camden. District III holds various music festivals for different age groups. I auditioned for the high school honors band. I wasn't very aware of the audition piece and I didn't take the needed time to practice it. The day of the auditions, I entered a large gymnasium full of talented high school musicians from various schools in the region. I realized all of these incredible people have dedicated a lot of their time to the auditions. I knew I didn't put in all the time I actually needed to orchestrate this piece correctly. I didn't make in into the honors band, but I was affected greatly.

Eventually he decided to break the ice and we started talking. He was kind, funny, and fun to be around. His eyes were big and brown like a puppy. About a week later we became great friends. Meanwhile, we played “lovers” on stage, and most of the cast and crew shipped us as a real couple. (Shipping is when someone believes that two people would be cute together, and they create a name. In this case, ‘Bronovan’.) Which I laughed about because I’m a shipper. I believe it was a day later Scene 6 started to be worked

As a student who makes it their goal to involve himself in every musical activity, I have had the privilege to play music in large groups like a marching band, big band, and orchestra, in addition to small groups like a jam band and a traditional gypsy jazz band. I’ve participated in competitions at tens of schools, auditioned into region bands, and played big band charts on the steps of the Navy Memorial. With that being considered the group that had the most profound effect on me is a student-run Jazz combo, a small group of around eight high school musicians who played jazz standards at smaller high-class events. My four years in this group contain some of my most significant experiences of my high-school career. These experiences were what changed a nervous and absent minded freshman into the confident student leader that I act as today.

I was auditioning for one of Mr. Kentros ' choirs. I stood in the hallway nervously—as always—Rachel was there practicing for her audition, which was after mine. I 'm ready for this. I can do it! Coby came out of his audition with a giant smile on his face. He put his hand on my shoulder, “have fun, and good luck!” I took a deep breath as I walked into the choir classroom. Mr. Kentros was sitting at the piano with sight reading papers in front of him, there was a chair next and a music stand next to the piano for whoever was auditioning. He had his water bottle in one hand and a pencil, which he was using to scribble notes about Coby’s audition on a piece of paper. I looked over and saw Kentros ’wife Anni was sitting at his desk probably there watching the auditions. Ahh! I though. I didn’t prepare for both of them! I can’t do it. Leave! Leave now. Just walk out. I felt myself starting to turn around. Stay. You need to do this. I walked over to where the chair was by the piano. I tried not to think about and extra person being in the room so I could start my audition. “Are you ready?” Kentros asked, I didn’t answer. I couldn’t stop staring at Anni, she made me more nervous than I already was. She was intimidating. “Do you want Anni to leave?” He asked. I felt myself nod. Anni quickly smiled at me and left the room. Did I just kick his wife out of my audition? Oh NO! I didn’t mean that. This is turning very out badly. I gulped. Kentros handed me a piece of paper so I could do

Freshmen year of high school, the beginning of adolescence and responsibility, I chose the elective of choir. The state of California is a fanatical for the performing arts; I had little understanding of the class itself, but I knew enough about the different vocal sections from the previous year at the middle school. The first day of school was hectic, students bustling to and fro in the hallways trying to find their class. The first thing I noticed when walking into the choir room was the risers with black chairs, specifically made for choir students, on each row. My first impression of Mr. Ushino was excitement. He waited for his new all women’s Concert Choir to sit down before he began speaking.