The ninety-fourth 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: Kate Pavlak
Hometown: New Lenox, IL
School Name: Lincoln-Way West High School
Section: Color Guard
What made you decide to apply to be a part of the band?
I decided to apply for the BOA Honor Band first of all because I knew it would be very honorable for myself, my marching band, and my community. To be able to represent the Lincoln-Way Community, is amazing! I also decided to apply because I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I should take advantage of whatever opportunities are in front of me.
What part of the trip are you most excited about?
I’m most excited to meet 299 other band kids to learn about their marching band, and their style of marching and rehearsing, especially with regards to the Color Guard because technique styles vary from coach to coach, and from the east coast to the midwest to the west coast.
What are three things you’ve learned from being involved in band?
1. Teamwork. My guard coach always says, “You’re only as strong as your weakest member.” This encourages us to help the people who are struggling with an exercise or routine and to work together.
2. Time Management. With marching band being a pretty significant part of my life, I have had to learn how to balance marching band with school-work and a social life.
3. How to explore the regions outside of my comfort zone. Especially with being a Color Guard performer, you have to learn how to put yourself out there and make a connection with the audience, and leave everything out there on the field. It’s also allowed me to learn how to meet new people and make new friends, which is something I never would have been able to do because I am an extremely shy person.
Most memorable moment in band?
My most memorable moment in band was when the announcer said that my band had made finals at our state competition my freshmen year. It meant a lot to me because it was the first time in four years that this band had ever made finals. Four years earlier, my brother and I watched my sister perform in finals, and now at that moment we were going to be able to do the same.
Besides band, what are you involved in at school?
Besides band, I am involved in Winter Guard, National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. I also help tutor students in math during my advisory period. Outside of school, I am involved in Girl Scouts.
What’s your favorite book?
Choosing my favorite book is difficult for me as I am quite a bookworm, but if I had to choose, it would be The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot.
What’s your favorite song or piece of music?
My favorite song as of right now is Who Do You Love by Marianas Trench, but this changes about every few minutes.
Favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate, of course!
What’s your current plan for what you want to do after graduating high school?
I don’t have a strict plan or anything yet for after high school, but I am looking into either baking, or filmmaking and computer science.
Have you participated in MFA/BOA events before? Which ones?
Yes. I have performed with my marching band at two Regionals and one Super Regional so far. We have also performed at Grand Nationals this last season
Tell us something interesting/unique about you:
This past Thanksgiving, I marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the Macy’s Great American Marching Band. I also play the cello.
