School: Warrenton

Grade: Senior 

School Activities: Band, choir and theater 

What instrument do you want to try? Soprano saxophone 

Favorite music artist/genre: Country/Geoff Castellucci 

If you could star in any play, what would it be? “It’s a tie between two musicals. One would be The Phantom of the Opera and playing the phantom. The second one would be Les Mis and I would want to play Jean Valjean.” 

How did you get involved in these activities?

“My sister dragged me into theater. My mother is the choir teacher, so that’s how I joined and my friends recommended I do band, because I tried it in Tennessee when I used to live there. So I thought ‘Why not?’” 

Out of those clubs, is there one that you are the most passionate about?

“Band. I’m a big rhythm guy and I do percussion.” 

What instruments do you play? 

“Currently, I’m working on learning the trumpet. I used to play a little alto saxophone, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and then any percussion instrument you can think of, I can probably play it.” 

You went to state for a timpani and vocal solo last year, tell me about your experience. 

“That was a really cool experience. As far as I know, I’m one of the first timpani soloists from Warrenton in a really long time and I was willing to try it. When Friedman, my band teacher, said we would have an option for timpani solos, I thought ‘Why not?’ So, I signed up and tried it out, and when I learned I got gold at districts, I said I’ll try it again. When I went to state, I was terrified and I had no idea what I was doing, but I walked in there, did it and it worked out.” 

Was it difficult learning to play the timpani?

“When I first started learning it, I was really scared because here at Warrenton our timpanis aren’t the greatest, but after I learned it’s pretty much muscle memory. After learning the music and getting down the rhythms, it was pretty self explanatory.” 

Since you went to state for two different events, did you focus on one more than the other?

“I tried my best to focus on both equally, but I probably focused a little bit more on vocals. For timpani, I already had another competition called Opus. However, for choir, I only had district solo and ensemble and I had to do two songs for vocal solos.” 

What songs did you choose to perform at state?

“One song was in a foreign language and one was in English.” 

What foreign language did you choose to sing?

“Italian. I think it’s a really pretty language to sing in.”

What difficulties did you face singing in another language?

“I’ve been doing it since my freshmen year, so it was terrifying and pretty hard then. After that, it becomes muscle memory and something that clicks.”

What made you want to take on that challenge?

“I’m very competitively driven. If I see someone else doing something, I want to prove to them and myself that I can do it as well.” 

Tell me your reaction when you received gold for both events at state?

“I was shocked. We had four golds come from Warrenton and at first I didn’t know who it was. We learned that Gage Niehoff and my sister (Rebecca Spencer) got one too for her vocal solo. When I realized the other two golds were from me, I was shocked but it was amazing.” 

What have you done with theatre?

“I’ve done some tech for the musical, not a lot, but a couple of things. My freshman year, we did Wizard of Oz and I played Uncle Henry and the Wizard. My sophomore year was Beauty and the Beast. That one was fun because I got to play Gaston. Last year, I took a step back and this year, I’ll play Chad in High School Musical.”

What’s been your favorite role to perform?

“100% Gaston. I find that the farther away the character is from you, the easier it is to act. With Gaston being this narcissistic, abusive male type – that’s not me, so it was easy to play.” 

How has performing on stage helped you in other areas of your life?

“I’ve been doing piano since I was seven years old and I’ve been singing since I was about five. With my mom being the choir teacher and she also used to teach piano lessons, she would put me in a lot of things. We’d do church choirs, school choirs, piano recitals, so doing all that stuff at a really young age really helps out when you get to where you are now. I have a lot of friends that are seniors and they get nervous when it comes to being on stage and I am too at the start. Especially opening night for theatre, it’s a little nerve wrecking but after I get going, I forget everything.” 

Anything you want to achieve in your senior year?

“Honestly, my goal for my last year of high school is really just to prove to myself that after I’ve done everything, I’ll have memories of me being able to have fun.” 

What are your postgrad plans?

“I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so I’m going to serve a two-year mission for them. After that, if possible, I’ll go to college. I’m not huge into academics but if I can get some music type scholarships, I’d want to do both of those things at some point.”