Schools

Whiz Kid of the Week: Peter Bruschi

For the second year in a row Peter Bruschi scored a perfect score on his All-state music solo.

Name: Peter Bruschi

School:

Accomplishment: On April 8 at , Peter Bruschi, a sophomore at Comsewogue High School, scored a perfect 100 at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) solo festival playing his euphonium.

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What’s a euphonium?

“It's like a mini-tuba,” Bruschi said.

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According to his music teacher Fred Wilbur, Bruschi performed at a level 6, which is the highest difficulty of the solos listed in the NYSSMA manual. The NYSSMA solo festival is for music students across the island to perform for a judge at their appropriate level.

“Peter prepared a level 6 solo for his freshman and sophomore years earning a perfect score of 100 both times,” he said.

Key to Awesomeness: Bruschi started playing the euphonium when he was in 4th grade and hasn’t looked back since.

“I love playing music and being involved in the Comsewogue music program,” he said. “I don't know where I would be in music without all the great things we do in the music department.”

Bruschi’s taste in music is diverse but his favorites are along the lines of classic rock.

I like playing many different kinds of music, in particular rock,” he said. “From classic rock to metal, punk to alternative, I listen to it and play it all.

When he practices he says that he puts on his iPod and plays along to some of his favorite bands like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Aerosmith, and The Beatles.

Bruschi has a good ear for music and he enjoys playing the euphonium along with his other friends who play instruments you don’t usually associate with a school concert band like guitars.

He’s also played in the All-Star Tuba/Euphonium ensemble at the 2010 Howard Hovey Tuba Day and played in the Man of La Mancha and Ragtime pit bands at Comsewogue High School.

Bruschi hopes to continue in music after high school and playing euphonium among other instruments.

“I would like to minor in music for college,” he said. “I plan to pick up other musical instruments, such as trombone, tuba and string bass.”

Want to nominate a ? Send their name, age, info and a JPG photo to lon.cohen@patch.com.


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