BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
The Union County High School Band is known throughout the state for its consistent level of excellence in both state competitions and in the varied performances it presents. Band Director Kelly Dorsey works will each musician to help them become the best possible musician they can be and most blossom under her tutelage. Every now and then a band member goes beyond just playing an instrument (or several) and becomes more than just a musician, but something more.
Trestin Durant is a junior at UCHS and plays trombone, baritone and tuba in the band. His love of music has also led him into the beginnings of a career as a composer – not an easy area.
To compose music for an ensemble, band or orchestra a composer must not only write a catchy tune, he must have enough knowledge of music to write the individual parts for each instrument, called writing a full score. He must know how the sounds of the various instruments bland together to create both harmony and expressive sound. In many cases, this includes composing for instruments that he does not even know how to play.
Durant is doing this and succeeding. Last year he composed a large ensemble composition for the UCHS Jazz Band for its annual premier. The song is reminiscent of New Orleans style jazz and is titled “Swinging in the Streets.” After the performance the composition was sent in to the Florida Bandmasters Association Student Composition Contest and was judged in second place by only a few points. The piece was also played by the Apopka High School Band at their Spring concert.
“Trestin is very prolific in his composing,” Dorsey said. “He has written the “stands tunes” for the marching band and arranged all of the ensemble pieces for the high school players.”
Durant’s most ambitious composition so far has been a concert march titled “En Blanco y Negro,” that was played by the UCHS band in their Spring concert. The march was also played by the Gainesville Community Band in their Mother’s Day concert. Dorsey related that the Gainesville musicians were so delighted with the music that, before the concert, they thanked Durant for the parts he had written for their instruments.
“Trestin is very talented and dedicated to his composing,” Dorsey said. “I expect to see, and hear, great things from this talented young man.”
