Senior Christian Cortez, drum major for The Spirit of Brandeis Bronco Band, was recently selected for the All National Honor Ensemble Band by the NAFME (National Association For Music Education).
“It’s a national band that I auditioned for back in the summer, and I waited a couple weeks then got an email saying that I made the national band,” Cortez said.
Cortez began getting involved with music in the sixth grade playing tuba with the influence and help of his brother.
“My older brother played trombone and I wanted to try it out,” Cortez said. “So I played tuba.”
Cortez says he has his brother to thank for getting him into music and his private lesson teacher, Mr. Brumbaugh.
“Mr. Brumbaugh has been there since seventh grade helping me get better at all of the things that I’ve been playing,” Cortez said.