Ian Biles, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn
As the Class of 2025 enters their second semester of senior year, many students reflect on what defined their high school experience. For Ethan Rusher and Wyatt Demster, their involvement in the band program was pivotal in discovering their future career goals.
“High school band has helped me make a lot of friends,” said Rusher, tuba player and band leader. “It’s also given me the opportunity to meet new people that I may never have met had it not been for the band.”
Rusher plans to attend Appalachian State and major in music education, a career he says he never would have considered had it not been for the immense influence of Watauga’s band program.
“High school band has helped me grow and become a better musician, while also helping me realize what I wanted to do after graduation,” said Rusher.
Demster has taken on many roles in the band program. Throughout his time at the high school, he has become skilled as a trumpet player, violist, guitarist, bassist, and occasionally, a vocalist. The long hours of practice and dedication to the choir, band, and orchestra demonstrate Demster’s strong passion for music.
“The band program has changed my career course,” said Demster. “I originally planned on being an anesthesiologist after high school. Band helped me realise that music was what I wanted my priority to be.”
Their commitment to the band provided many musical opportunities for both Demster and Rusher outside of the traditional class.
“My favorite memory from band has to be the Western Region Orchestra clinic from last year,” said Demster. “It was a great clinic with a lot of wonderful music.”
This senior class has made a huge impact on the culture of the band program.
“I remember when they were freshmen,” said Taryn Wooten, Watauga High School band director. "I asked them to step up as leaders in the band, and almost all of them did. They’ve continued throughout their four years, to step up as student leaders and as musicians in the program.”
The bonds formed between Wooten and the seniors over the past four years are exhibited in the band’s excellent performances.
“I can communicate with them [band leaders] without having to use a lot of words,” said Wooten. “We've just gotten to that point where we understand each other on that level.”
As the seniors go off to pursue their ambitions, they hope to continue giving back to the band program and maintaining the connections that they cultivated in high school.
“I'm going to miss them as role models for the younger students, but the relationships I’ve built with them, that’s definitely the thing I’m going to miss the most,” said Wooten.
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