Performing with honor
Students selected to play with band at Augustana
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| Trumpet player Thomas Fatigante, left, and clarinet player Brandon Wills stand behind flautist Sarah Sirovy. The three Coal City High School band members were chosen to perform with an honor band at Augustana College in January. (Jordan Bolker photo) |
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COAL CITY — Music can make a huge impact on everyone’s lives, especially the students that participate in the Coal City High School band. It certainly came early for senior Brandon Wills, junior Sarah Sirovy and senior Thomas Fatigante.
“I loved music my whole life and wanted to be part of it,” says Wills, who plays the clarinet. “My aunt used to have a clarinet and I just started to play it on my own. After I learned how fun it was and all the friends I made, right away I knew I wanted to be in band.”
“My father played in his high school band, so he encouraged me to try it,” says Sirovy. “I got pushed along to try the flute and ended up loving it. I met so many people and we just got close. That’s the thing about band; you form a family. Now I get called the ‘Band Mom.’”
“When we got to try out different instruments in fifth grade, it was a lot of fun and entertaining. The trumpet though was the one of the few instruments that I could get a sound out of,” says Fatigante. “I wasn’t sure whether or not I was going to stay but I made friends easily and I love playing music.”
These three students not only perform for their school concerts, but they were selected to travel to Augustana College in January to perform in an honor band festival made up of some of the best high school musicians in Illinois and Iowa. Like all performers, they have their thoughts and feelings before going on.
“I look over my music repeatedly and I get nervous. But after we’re done playing, I relax. It’s the same as how you would feel after getting done riding a roller coaster,” Sirovy explains.
“I get nervous everytime,” says Fatigante. “I focus on playing every note at my best and after we’re done, I’m happy seeing everyone cheering for us.”
“As soon as the music starts, all the anxiety goes away. I feel like I’m the only person there and play the best I can. The feeling you get from playing music is undescribable,” says Wills.
According to Coal City High School’s new band director, Thomas Ruzinok, these three are not just average band students.
“These students are extremely involved in many different activities here at Coal City High School. Besides being great students academically, they are involved in sports, leaders of their band sections and always have a very positive attitude,” says Ruzinok.
“They are great leaders. They’re always striving to help, care for everyone in the ensemble. Not only do I see them willing to give help and advice to others in the section they continue to work hard by working on their craft.”
In addition for their love of music, Fatigante, Wills and Sirovy also have their favorite songs they performed this year.
“I really liked ‘Children’s March.’ This is a very hard song, mainly for college students. We were really successful playing that in our winter concert,” says Fatigante. “I think some of the songs we will play in the future will probably change that though.”
“My favorite song so far is ‘Olympiada,’” Sirovy says. “It’s really fast-paced and challenging.”
“Definitely ‘Ireland: Of Legend and Lore,’” Wills says. “We played it at two concerts and it was just great to play.”
Wills, Fatigante, and Sirovy also have strong hopes and beliefs for the band in the future.
“We have so much potential,” Sirovy believes. “We can really go places if we take advantage of that.”
“I can definitely see us entering more competitions and giving ourselves a name that will really shine to other schools,” Wills says.
“The sky is the limit,” says Fatigante. “I think that no matter what we do, there’s going to be a whole new respect for the band as a whole.”
These students are also looking toward their own future before them and hoping to have music be a part of that future still.
“I do anticipate they will continue,” Ruzinok says.
“They have had conversations with me about their future and how much they would miss music if it was not in their life. I hope to see them continuing their musical career far into the future no matter what degree they choose to pursue.”
Wills plans to major in music in college and hopefully go on to play in an orchestra or be a music director at a school. Sirovy hopes to still be playing the flute in college, wherever that will take her. Fatigante plans to still be doing music at Joliet Junior College next fall.
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Great article Miss Bolker! Music is an important part of school and life. The students mentioned should be proud of their hard work! Good Luck to all. |
