Our trombone student Arlo has been on a roll lately. He auditioned for the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association Junior Band Clinic in the spring and earned second chair. That qualified him for All-State, which meant he got a five-day trip to Nashville to play with the best young musicians in Tennessee. More recently he participated in the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra’s summer program at Bearden High.

Just a year before, Arlo had tried out for the East Tennessee clinic and didn’t make the cut. That’s a pretty big jump to go from not making the orchestra to being in All-State!

“He has matured,” says Julie Carter, our Director of Music Education. “He’s grown a lot this past year. He’s worked really hard, and he’s got a great teacher in Myron Percy.”

So what’s his secret? “There’s not really any secret,” says Myron. “You put in the time and you get the results.” He describes Arlo as an excellent student who “comes in with the right attitude and does the work.” He adds: “Arlo’s parents support him a lot. They give him a good place to practice and they encourage him. His sister, Birdie, is also a Joy of Music School student.”

Arlo, who’s a junior at South Doyle High School, says his other hobbies are beekeeping and working out. But the trombone definitely plays a special part in his daily routine. He strives to practice every day, usually for an hour or so. And it shows!

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