My Musical Bio
I started my musical training fairly early taking my first piano lessons in the third grade, and then starting band in the fifth. Why did I choose the euphonium? Well basically, on the day that we had our assembly to see if we wanted to join band, the band director passed around the instruments. And when I got to hold the euphonium (aka "baritone"), it was the biggest instruments passed around, shiny, and had valves you could move!
Needless to say, I was hooked.
So since then, I studied both throughout high school, studying piano with Mrs. Louise Cleveland, and
euphonium with Professor Roger Behrend, US Navy Band.
Unfortunately, when I went to Illinois I chose to focus on instrument, and so I chose euphonium
since I'm better at it. So, regrettably my piano has suffered dramatically, but what could I do. However, I do try and keep playing, often at church and for fun.
Anyways, why did I major in music? Well, I believe that music has played a significant role in shaping how I view myself. Music has given me an ability to experience an incredibly wide range of emotions through sound; that deep a feeling of complete joy, of intensity, of passion. I believe that the human spirit requires only three things to be happy: the love of another, faith in something, and a creative outlet such as music. The first comes from another. The second comes from within. The third, music, is all around us. To be able to inspire people in such a way without words something that can't possibly be described any other way. That is what music to me is about, and why I choose to dedicate my life to it.
