All-State Camp Ignites Passion for Horn
Keith plays horn in the MYS Symphony Orchestra and will be a 12th grader at St. Michael - Albertville High School. He studies horn with Melissa Morey.
For Keith, the turning point in his musical journey came just last summer at All-State Camp. He has played horn since the summer before fifth grade, but until recently, he had not participated in music outside of school. At the weeklong camp surrounded by so many highly dedicated musicians, something clicked: “The moment it hit me that I wanted to do music was when I went to All-State,” Keith reflects. In the wake of that pivotal experience, he no longer felt content simply to return to playing with his school band. Coincidentally, that same week his band director referred him to a private horn instructor, Melissa Morey, who also serves as MYS Operations Manager. Keith quickly prepared the MYS audition materials and was accepted into Symphony Orchestra, where he has found connection, a rich learning environment, and inspiration that fuels his potential.
Upon joining MYS, playing in the brass section of an orchestra was a brand new experience. Keith quickly discovered that the horn often has more exposed, soloistic lines than in band music—bringing him a mix of excitement and pressure. “You really make sure you practice your music. Because if you don’t practice, everyone’s going to hear,” he explains. He credits the mentorship of his section-mate with helping him grow as a player: “Getting to play with Finn, I’m learning stuff all the time. He’s taught me a lot about playing in the high range and playing in certain styles—even French horn facts!” Keith and Finn encountered a notable challenge last spring when first sightreading Wagner’s Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin; they were presented with non-transposed horn parts that switched between G, D, E, and A-flat in quick succession. They struggled to sightread and were promptly humbled, having never needed to practice transposing before. That’s just one example of how playing in MYS has motivated Keith to build his musical toolkit and fluency. He gives this analogy: “Your brain can shift, like switching languages. The more you work the more comfortable you get.”
Further demonstrating Keith’s growth mindset, he recalls his journey with jazz improvisation as a trumpet player in his high school jazz band. Always wanting to play his best, he admits that “at first I would plan out all the notes I would play and have them written down.” He gradually moved beyond his paper cheat-sheets but would still prepare his solos fully in advance. As his confidence grew, he began improvising in the middle and only planning the beginning and the end. His confidence has grown after three years and Keith now finds improvisation to be a lot of fun.
This past summer was packed with music. Throughout June, Keith played mellophone in marching band, performing choreographed street shows in parades. Another highlight was being selected as the horn player for Hennepin Arts' Spotlight Showcase, a cast of top high school actors, singers, dancers, and technicians from around Minnesota who have the opportunity to be mentored by professionals in the business. The pit orchestra rehearsed and performed numbers from The Wiz, Shrek, Wicked, Suffs, and more. Keith also participated in the MYS Haydn Chamber Orchestra, and he returned to All-State Camp in August—this time as a member of the orchestra.
Looking ahead, Keith envisions a career as a horn player and is beginning to prepare for college auditions. “I feel like as long as I’m playing horn, I’ll be happy—playing in an orchestra, band, chamber group, or pit orchestras—I’m open-minded!” he proclaims. In the meantime, he hopes to build on his first year in MYS by gaining a lot more experience with classical orchestral repertoire. With his passion sparked, his dedication growing, and a wide range of recent experiences under his belt, Keith is eager for wherever music takes him next.
