Music Section:

I first had musical aspirations in the the 6th grade when I became curious about playing the trumpet.  When I had my audition for Junior High chorus, I purposefully sang terribly so that I would not be picked for choir but rather could choose band as my musical elective.  Turns out, I probably didn't have to try to sing poorly to have not been chosen for choir.

Regardless, I joined the band in 7th grade and started playing the trumpet.  I was not that great and I soon received braces, making the trumpet even more difficult to play.  So, I switched to the baritone / euphonium in the 8th grade.  I still was not great and continued that streak until the end of 9th grade.  At the end of the year, the two seniors (Joe and Lorie) graduated and no one but me was there to play the baritone part, so I practiced a little.  I remember Lorie (at least I guessed it was her) placing her hand my shoulder as she passed by me during the processional march.  It felt like a passing of the torch, so I decided to practice even more.

That next year, I really learned how to play and took on more of leadership role.  I joined the church orchestra and the pep band and was picked to play a solo in the concert band.  During my Junior and Senior years, I gained some more skill, did some more solos, did the All District and All State things, and received a small musical scholarship to the University of Louisville.  I played in the Concert and Sermonic bands for 4 years but focused on my major, engineering.  I also devoted a summer to Drum Corps.

Since graduating, there hasn't been a lot of opportunity to play the euphonium.  In fact, demand has been zero.  I decided to buy an acoustic guitar to channel my musical energies but I guess I just don't have too much energies left because I can still barely play.  Hopefully, I'll find some more time to devote the the six string and enjoy play an instrument the way I used to.

• Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps - 1993 was a long time ago!  But, I still have a web page devoted to the summer I spent with them.  I was a great experience.
• Dave Matthews Band - I've attended several shows and have quite a few recordings to trade.  DMB is my favorite band.  Regardless of what my wife proclaims, I do listen to many, many other performers.