Elijah Bass, 16, came from a family of musicians, so it isn’t surprising that he, too, wanted to find an instrument to play. By fifth grade, his instrument of choice was the saxophone, but parents can be a bit more practical about those issues and suggested he start with a clarinet since they already owned one. 

After one year, Bass was happy with music but convinced his parents to give his sister the clarinet and finally purchase him a sax.

That investment has paid off for the teenager who has been active in band, particularly jazz band, at Leo Elementary and Leo Jr./Sr. High under the direction of Bob Myers. Bass cherishes a memory from a performance when he was in eighth grade.

“My favorite musical memory was at North Side High School for a jazz band competition my eighth grade year,” he said. “It was the first time that I got to play in a large theater and I absolutely loved it. My whole family was there to watch me play my solo in Whiplash. I got to play with my best friend in the jazz band. The solo I played wasn’t very good, but the experience was one I will never forget.”

He is undecided about his future in music, but he knows he wants to continue to play and further develop his musical skills.

“I love making my own arrangement of music and would love to learn how to do it more.”