The fourty-ninth installment of a new series on the blog that we will be posting throughout the month of December. As some of you are aware, Music for All will be taking an Honor Band to the 2017 Rose Parade. Our members were selected by audition for the ensemble and come from all across the United States. We are looking forward to coming together for the first time as a band at the end of December and we hope this series will allow us all to get to know some (hopefully most!) of the members of this awesome ensemble!

AndrewM

Name: Andrew Morrison

Hometown: Warren, NJ

School Name: Watchung Hills Regional HS

Section: Alto Saxophone

What made you decide to apply to be a part of the band?
The Rose Parade itself is a parade I always watched on TV, and being apart of it was something on my bucket list. I always looked up to BOA bands and the fact that BOA has an Honor Band made me 100% sure this would be a really special group to be a part of.

What part of the trip are you most excited about?
I am by far most excited for the rehearsals. This isn’t the standard answer, but I want to go into music education and some of the greatest music educators will be running these rehearsals. I know I will learn a lot of new rehearsal techniques that I can bring home with me, to apply in the future.

What are three things you’ve learned from being involved in band?
1. I learned how to be patient. 
2. I learned how to keep pushing when there is no end in sight. 
3. I learned that when you actually put 110% effort into something it feels just as good as winning.

Most memorable moment in band?
I fell off my Drum Major podium one day when it rained. Whoops.

Besides band, what are you involved in at school?
I am in every possible ensemble there is at my high school. Band has taken over my life.

What’s your favorite book?
25 Daily Exercises for Saxophone by Klosé

What’s your favorite song or piece of music?
Irish Tune From County Derry by Grainger. It is so beautiful and has a killer soprano sax part.

Favorite movie?
The Blind Side

Favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

What’s your current plan for what you want to do after graduating high school?
I hope to attend West Chester University to pursue a degree in Music Education as well as Saxophone Performance.

Have you participated in MFA/BOA events before? Which ones?
This is my first one!

Tell us something interesting/unique about you:
I comb my hair before every audition/performance/competition. I do not go anywhere without my lucky comb!

AndrewM2AndrewM3AndrewM4