Well hello there! I'm Max, one of the Executives here at Route 50. I also happen to be the youngest of us, but that's just a random fact. :D

I have been a member of Route 50 for over 5 years now, as you can see up above. When I first joined, I was very into the role-plays here, but have since receded into lurking, monitoring and helping when I can.

I am currently attending Kansas State University, majoring in Music Education, with an emphasis in instrumental music. Basically, I'll be a band teacher. That is, if I don't make it in a rock band with one of my best friends. :D

I guess I'll wrap this up now. A few quick facts to leave you with: I love The Beatles and Muse and Rush. I can play at least 8 different instruments, but not at the same time. I am addicted to Dr. Pepper. :D #dotdotD

Well, that was fun.
~Max

Leadership

Next year is looking to be a busy year for me, especially during the fall semester! In just the past two weeks, I have been elected as the Treasurer for my chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, and just today, I received the Music Instructor (assistant section leader) position for the baritone section of the K-State Marching Band. Those two responsibilities, compounded with how involved I plan to be with Kappa Kappa Psi, and my plan to be in 8 ensembles next semester, it looks like I won't have much of a life.

After the district convention for KKΨ, the only other freshman that went and I discussed how much we wanted to have certain officer positions for the next year. He wanted to be the Vice President of Membership, because he is very outgoing and a great teacher. I wanted to be the Treasurer, because I had worked with the district Secretary/Treasurer, and I was on the district Ways and Means committee, so I had some experience with budgets. When it came time for voting for officers, my friend won the VPM position unopposed. Surprisingly, four people ran for the Treasurer position, but I ended up winning, because (as someone told me that they discussed) "He seems like he legitimately wants the position to do good, not just for a resume filler." I was really excited, and I'm going to be working with some great people next year.

Auditioning to be a section leader was a stressful time, because I had everything I wanted to say planned out, but when I went in for the interview, I forgot everything. I must have ended up being the right person for the job, because I got exactly the position that I wanted, which was to be the Music Instructor. As the MI, I will be the one who runs the sectional rehearsals, and I'll also get to wear a tassel thingy over my shoulder, to indicate that I'm an assistant section leader. I'm really excited to be in the marching band, you guys. :)

8 ensembles! I'm taking 15 credit hours next semester, but if I'm in these 8 ensembles, I'll have 17 hours of rehearsals a week! I'll start by listing the ensembles (and instrument I'll play in it) and my reasoning for being in each:

1. Marching Band (Baritone): I get to be a band geek with 350+ other people, and I don't get judged by them. And I'll be an assistant section leader and a brother of KKΨ, so I'll be very involved with the band.
2. Pub Crawl (Baritone): An auditioned band that goes around to the bars in the nearby business district the night before a game to pump people up. I feel like I will probably get in, since I'll know what I'm doing this year.
3. Cat Band (Electric Bass): The basketball pep band. I played both bass and baritone in it last year, switching off for each game. For a while, I wasn't going to do it, because it takes up so much time. But then I decided that I would still do it, but I would just play baritone. THEN, I realized that the other bass player wasn't going to be playing bass for it next year, either, and I didn't want there to be a crappy bass player. So, I decided to give in and just play bass, so that we don't get anyone that sucks.
4. A concert ensemble (Euphonium): By concert ensemble, I mean either the Wind Ensemble (top ensemble), Wind Symphony (middle ensemble), or Concert Band (bottom ensemble). I really hope that I get into the Wind Symphony, because I really like the music that they play. The Concert Band music isn't challenging enough for me, but I played one piece with the Wind Symphony (First Suite in Eb for Military Band by Gustav Holst), and I got solos in it, and it was fun and challenging. But depending on how next semester goes with the directors, I may not do any concert ensembles after that. It gets a bit too competitive and there's too much drama.
5. Brass Ensemble (Euphonium): The Brass Ensemble is an awesome group that plays awesome music and I just want to be one of them. Both of the euphonium players aren't doing it next year, so I have a very good chance of making it.
6. Orchestra (Tuba): I've never played with an orchestra before, and I still have my tuba chops. I really hope that my audition goes well enough that I beat out any competition, but I'll just have to practice. Again, really excited.
7. Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble (Euphonium): I'm required to be in this ensemble, but I still have fun in it. I sometimes get solos in this ensemble, so I'm totally fine with being in it.
8. Clarinet Choir (Bass Clarinet/Contra-alto Clarinet): I learned how to play bass clarinet about a month and a half ago, and I joined the Clarinet Choir soon after I learned. I'm going to take bass clarinet lessons next semester and play in the ensemble, too, so I'll hopefully make some big leaps in my woodwind skills. Also, the current contra-alto clarinet player will be student teaching during the spring semester next year, and I really hope to be able to switch to the contra-alto spot. I played it one time, and I was much better on it than I was on bass clarinet. Hopefully with lessons on bass clarinet, I'll be even better on the contra when I do switch.

I really like lists. :)