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Garner among state's best band players
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Curtis Elliott
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
When seventh-grader Austin Garner played his trumpet March 17, it was a special occasion. He was a participant in the Junior High School All-State Music Festival at Higley High School in Gilbert.
Garner was part of a 108-piece band made up of seventh- and eighth-graders from all over Arizona, but Garner was the only one from Cochise County.
"You have to be nominated by your teachers," Garner said. "And the principals have to allow you to go."
"It was a long day up there. I was there until 6 p.m. They split off saxophones, and then we played individually. We practiced together, took a break, practiced some more, had lunch, did a final rehearsal, then we changed into our formal clothes and did the actual performance."
Hilbert Bernal has been Garner's band director for the last three years. He said that Bill Richardson, retired band director from Corona del Sol High in Tempe, was guest conductor. The band played four selections.
"Everyone got to perform that evening," Bernal said. "There was an All-State choir and an orchestra. We worked on the music for more than a month."
Austin's mother, Dona, said, "I'm very proud of him."
A few weeks after the music festival, Austin left Benson Middle School to be home schooled.
"He was going a quarter at a time," Dona Garner said. "He was keeping up with band and his social studies. He takes piano lessons, does trumpet, and band."
Austin sees the value of home schooling.
"I can progress more if I'm not distracted by having other kids around," Austin said.
Last year, he performed with the Alumni Band for the Fourth of July, and he intends to perform again in this year's event. "I had 15 pieces of music to learn in three days for the Parade last year," he said.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
When seventh-grader Austin Garner played his trumpet March 17, it was a special occasion. He was a participant in the Junior High School All-State Music Festival at Higley High School in Gilbert.
Garner was part of a 108-piece band made up of seventh- and eighth-graders from all over Arizona, but Garner was the only one from Cochise County.
"You have to be nominated by your teachers," Garner said. "And the principals have to allow you to go."
"It was a long day up there. I was there until 6 p.m. They split off saxophones, and then we played individually. We practiced together, took a break, practiced some more, had lunch, did a final rehearsal, then we changed into our formal clothes and did the actual performance."
Hilbert Bernal has been Garner's band director for the last three years. He said that Bill Richardson, retired band director from Corona del Sol High in Tempe, was guest conductor. The band played four selections.
"Everyone got to perform that evening," Bernal said. "There was an All-State choir and an orchestra. We worked on the music for more than a month."
Austin's mother, Dona, said, "I'm very proud of him."
A few weeks after the music festival, Austin left Benson Middle School to be home schooled.
"He was going a quarter at a time," Dona Garner said. "He was keeping up with band and his social studies. He takes piano lessons, does trumpet, and band."
Austin sees the value of home schooling.
"I can progress more if I'm not distracted by having other kids around," Austin said.
Last year, he performed with the Alumni Band for the Fourth of July, and he intends to perform again in this year's event. "I had 15 pieces of music to learn in three days for the Parade last year," he said.
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