As the second semester continues and students go many weeks without a break, they might start to lose their motivation, simply hoping that the year comes to an end. However, one talented musician in the village frequently breaks this cycle: Malcolm Turner. Despite only being a freshman, Turner’s trumpet abilities surpass expectations, making him perfect for this month’s artist featurette.
Due to his dedication to the arts from a young age, Turner has gotten a majority of his inspiration from the musicians he learned about during this time period.
“I’ve been playing since fifth grade. Louis Armstrong inspired me to start playing. I did a project on him in second grade for Black History Month, and his music has stuck with me since,” Turner said.
By constantly refining and renewing his skills, Turner was able to get to his current skill level, even using some of his time in school to improve.
“Malcolm practices very often; he constantly comes in to practice before and after school and during his lunch,” band teacher William Shoemaker said.
With this newfound interest in trumpet, Turner was eventually led to playing for his school, leading to him trying out for All-County and District.
“There are three levels: All-County, All-District and All-State. There are a lot of counties that are just one state, and others that have a lot of districts, ” Turner said.
Despite not being confident in his abilities and his young age, Turner’s constant dedication to his craft especially showed in his All-County and All-District auditions, getting first chair in both.
“At the moment, I thought my audition went pretty horribly. My first room was okay, that was scales and sight reading, but in my second room, my audition kinda fell apart, but when I got my results back, I did pretty well,” Turner said
Even though Turner was surprised by the chair he earned after his audition, his band director was certain that he would get the highest position.
“He earned first chair through his dedication to the trumpet, paired with his intelligence and how he focuses on practice,” Shoemaker said.
Along with his contribution to the school band, Turner is also present in his local scene, exploring new opportunities within different communities in an attempt to broaden his horizons and become a better musician.
“I mostly play church gigs, but I also go to and host jam sessions and take trumpet lessons. I primarily collect jazz CDs, and, of course, I practice all the time. I also dabble in electric bass and drums,” Turner said.
With his ability to work diligently and have an effective schedule when it comes to practicing, Shoemaker has no doubt that Turner will succeed later in life.
“Malcolm adds musical expertise beyond his years and has a remarkable work ethic that will carry him very far,” Shoemaker said.
Whether you see him in the band room, at school concerts, or trying out for an upcoming All-State competition, there is no question that you’ll be able to see his talent in person.
