The fifteenth 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!
Name: Austin Warnock
Hometown: Edmond, OK
School Name: Edmond Memorial High School
Section: Mellophone
What made you decide to apply to be a part of the band?
I decided to apply to this band because it looked like an amazing experience. I wanted to prove to my band director, my parents, and myself that I could take initiative and challenge myself to succeed. Every part of this trip, from the audition to the financial obligation was achieved through my own hard work.
What part of the trip are you most excited about?
I am excited to perform for so many spectators at Disneyland and the Rose Parade. I am looking forward to meeting other kids from all over the United States, who have the same love for music as I do.
What are three things you’ve learned from being involved in band?
1. Being a section leader has taught me patience. Some days I wanted to pull my hair out! The occasional struggle was a great opportunity to learn how to work as a team.
2. Marching band is hard work and does not always lead to a first place win. Hey, trophies collect dust, but the experience will last a lifetime!
3. Motivation comes from within. To really enjoy and be successful at something, I believe that motivation has to come from within, not from outside expectations.
Most memorable moment in band?
I earned third chair in the Wind Ensemble my Freshman year of high school. It was unusual for a Freshman to be accepted into this ensemble. Not only was this a great honor, it also gave me the opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall when I was only 14-years-old! We were doing a sound check right before the concert, when I realized I had left my music in the hotel. My mom slipped in the back door entrance to bring it to me. I don’t plan to make this mistake again, I hope being a little older has made me more responsible!
Besides band, what are you involved in at school?
I am a member of the Edmond Memorial Chapter of the National Honor Society. In March 2016, I became an Eagle Scout through Troop 78 in Edmond, Oklahoma. I volunteer a lot of hours to Eagle Scout and community work projects.
What’s your favorite book?
To Kill a Mockingbird. I like its theme of understanding others and looking at things with a new perspective.
What’s your favorite song or piece of music?
My favorite piece I have ever performed is Ghost Train by Eric Whitacre. It is 20 minutes long, but it has some of the best French Horn parts known to bandkind!
Favorite movie?
Star Wars: A New Hope
Favorite ice cream flavor?
Call me square…Vanilla is my favorite.
What’s your current plan for what you want to do after graduating high school?
I am a concurrent enrollment student at the University of Oklahoma. I plan to double major in Computer Engineering and Music Arts. I also plan to be in the University Marching Band, The Pride of Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner!
Have you participated in MFA/BOA events before? Which ones?
My high school band has performed at Grand Nationals in 2014 and the St. Louis Super Regional in 2015. In 2014, our show Gravity, featured pieces from Disney’s Reflections of Earth and Wicked’s Defying Gravity. In 2015 our show The Shining featured excerpts from Grainger’s Children’s March and Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique.
Tell us something interesting/unique about you:
The hardest thing I have done is hike 52.6 miles through the Ouachita National Forest in the pouring rain with overgrown vegetation, while covered in bug bites. I was so proud of myself for staying with the journey and very thankful for a shower, comfortable bed, and air conditioning when I got home.
