You’d be hard-pressed to find Kanye West or Jay-Z on this Interlake High School student’s iPod.
Instead, 18-year-old Andrew Nelson listens to obscure classical saxophone music, among other things. The senior in Interlake’s gifted program is a finalist in this year’s North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Young Artist Competition held at Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University, March 15-18.
The musician was in All-National Honor Band 2011. He’s placed in second and first at local and state competitions. In addition to his school’s jazz and marching bands, he formed his own sax quartet with his friends. And that’s not even the half of his accomplishments.
While he normally practices 10 hours a week, he will be upping the practice time to gear up for the NASA. Out of the 19 students who applied for the competition, Nelson was one of seven finalists who will compete for first, second or third place.
The saxophonist admits his beloved instrument belongs in its own niche.
He says it’s not the “bright, screaming, high sound” people recognize from jazz music. He uses a different mouthpiece to create a classical music sound that’s “darker.”
Nelson got into music at age 4, starting with the piano.
Ever since he was in the fifth grade, he only had eyes, or ears, for the sax. But his instructors made him start off with something easier at first, the clarinet. When he finally got to play the saxophone, he thought he’d go into jazz music, but fell in love with the classical songs he was given to build up his technique.
Since then, he’s put his high school years to good use, music-wise.
Nelson was one of five students from Interlake who created and executed the Eastside Battle of the Bands to raise money for arts education. In the past two years of the battle’s existence, Nelson and his fellow musicians were able to raise $10,000 for arts programs in schools. The event will happen again this March at the Old Redmond Firehouse, but Nelson and his friends have passed the responsibility on to underclassmen.
Instead of Battle of the Bands, Nelson will be preparing for the March competition, and for getting into college. While he’s keeping an open mind about where he will end up, having applied to schools across the U.S., scouts from music schools will attend the NASA, so it could prove to be a defining moment for the teen.
In addition to music, Nelson is interested in studying the humanities, English or Philosophy.
“No matter what I end up doing for college, music will always be a part of my life,” he said.
Gabrielle Nomura can be reached at 425-453-4270.
