Senator trumpeter takes top note

A student at Carson High School was named best trumpet player in the state during a statewide competition at Elko.

Tyson Reed, a junior and a band student, was awarded Command Performance at the Solo and Ensemble Competition in Elko on March 14. He competed in the High Brass category of the competition.

Reed won the title after performing a solo, "Variations on a Favorite Theme," by Carl Maria Von Webber, he said he had been working on since August.

"I was jumping around and screaming after hearing about the award. I actually hurt myself when I fell into a truck," he said.

Reed, 17, was introduced to trumpet playing when he was in the fourth grade, when his class had to choose instruments to play for music class. "The teacher told us to pick our instruments and I thought it sounded cool," Reed said. He has been playing the trumpet since the fifth grade. The trumpet player said he occasionally will perform for money in the community, but not often.

To compete at state, Reed had to first compete in regionals at North Valley High School. After receiving a superior rating, he was sent to All-State for competition. In the morning, he played his solo before a judge and a small group of people.

He then learned he had received Command Award, the top award in the state. Reed later played in front of the All-State musicians, an audience of about 500 people. Reed said the experience was one of the "scariest things" he has done in his life.

The high school musician says he owes part of his accomplishment to his accompanist, Milas Scruggs.

"Without him, it wouldn't have worked," Reed said of his solo.

Scruggs played the piano for Reed's award-winning solo. Reed also performed in Wednesday night's Band-O-Rama at Carson High School, a program in which all of the local school bands -- nearly 1,000 students -- perform together.

"I would say his accomplishment is huge," said Vice Principal Fred Perdomo. "Considering the quality of musicians in this state, it is an outstanding accomplishment."

Perdomo also had praise for the CHS band members who traveled to Elko for the competition. "Mr. Holloway (CHS band instructor) must be extra pleased with the performance of his students," Perdomo said. "They've made tremendous strides toward being the best band in the state."

Reed said he wants to pursue his music in college, either in music composition or music education.

Editor's Note: Jeremy Penrod is a senior at Carson High School and a member of the Senator News Staff, CHS's student newspaper. He plans on pursuing a career in journalism.