NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) – Redbank Valley High School’s Cheyenne Kiehl was on the verge of quitting the band. Despite her parents buying her a new flute recently, it just was not resonating with her for a few months. But a performance changed her perspective and has helped guide her towards a memorable music career.
Local High School Band Series is sponsored by Gatesman Auto Body.
“Being in band changed my life,” Cheyenne told exploreClarion. “My past band director used to always tell us students to invest in music because ‘Music Changes Lives’. I wholeheartedly believe him because the power of music gives me a feeling that no words can describe. Music makes me feel unstoppable; especially whenever I am playing with my peers and we are all contributing our best efforts to please an audience.
“Being in band has also decreased my fear of crowds significantly. Growing up, I was never much of a big fan of crowds; however, in my first year of marching band, we performed in front of over 300 people in the stadium, and it genuinely eradicated my fear and I started enjoying performing in front of crowds.”
Cheyenne began playing the flute over seven years ago and has also added the piccolo to her repertoire. She plays the flute in concert band, while in marching band, she focuses on piccolo. She picked the flute mostly because of her older sister, who joined the band before her. Choosing the flute in elementary school has paid dividends as she attended the District III Band Festival this year and got fourth chair, flute one, after auditioning. She also made it to the Region II Band Festival. Outside of this recent run in concert band, Kiehl is currently in the Tri-M Music Honor Society and has played multiple lead roles in the musicals featured in her school district. In the past, she has played the part Ms. Gulch in The Wizard of Oz and Louis/Officer Kowalski in Freaky Friday the Musical, as well as other minor characters in each show.
She intends to make it to the district band level, if not beyond, in the rest of her high school career, to continue being an important part of the Redbank Valley Bulldogs marching band, and to continue staying active in plays and musicals throughout the rest of her high school career.
Another goal she has is to try out to be a drum major for the marching band because of the honor that comes with this title. Past high school, Cheyenne is also hopeful there is an opportunity for her to be in marching band in college and also to one day be more active in community-related bands and musical groups.
To become the musician she is today, Kiehl credits all the band directors over her years performing.
“Each of them has been really nice and encouraging, and I honestly see them as secondary parents. They have helped me grow into the performer that I am today, and if it weren’t for them, I probably would have quit the band a long time ago.”
She continued, “I would also like to thank my family for giving me the money for a flute and for always supporting me and encouraging me on my musical journey. My father is not musical in the slightest, but he is my Number One fan whenever it comes to my musical extracurricular activities. He always provides me transportation, comes to my concerts, and is always there to lend a hand in any way he can.”
When Cheyenne was in the sixth grade, she was navigating the pandemic and entering a new school for the first time after moving. The pandemic was certainly an interesting time for everyone, and it resulted in her not putting much time into playing.
“Whenever it came to sixth grade, I honestly didn’t see the appeal in the band and was thinking of quitting. The only reason I stayed in band until the concert was because I felt guilty since my parents are the ones who bought my flute to support me. I still wanted to quit despite that, and I came to the conclusion of telling my parents that I would quit after the sixth-grade spring concert. When the moment arrived to perform, and the sixth-grade concert was through, I felt exhilarated.”
Cheyenne added, “The only concert I had prior to then was in fourth grade because the one I was preparing for in fifth grade was canceled because of the pandemic. However, that sixth-grade concert relit something in me and made me remember how fun being in band was. Sharing this was important to me because I am hoping it may inspire others to join band and to stay committed to it if they are already a part of it.”
Looking back at her journey as a performer, she knows the band has given her a great deal in her life. But most of all, it’s given her the ability to remain disciplined and overcome her fears. Performing in front of others was once frightening, but it is no longer. There is still music that takes time to get used to, but with time, she gets comfortable and belts it out.
“A lot of players play so that they can satisfy the audience. There is nothing wrong with that. However, I play so that I can reach that exhilarating feeling of playing the last note at a concert. It is the best feeling in the world, and it is so rewarding to play a piece of music or a collection of music perfectly at a concert that I once struggled with.”
The feeling she had after her seventh-grade spring concert and her recent run in the district band are some of her favorite memories from being involved with band. She is continuing to chase that feeling of resonating with catchy tunes for weeks after the performance and working for months to perform a collection of music at a concert.
Yet, the band is certainly bigger than that for her, as well. It has been the constant in her life, and music pulled her out of a tough time of being new to her school and navigating a pandemic as a tween.
Now, Cheyenne Kiehl understands the opportunity that comes with band and the privilege it is to perform in front of others and with so many peers.
Each month a Clarion County marching band student will be spotlighted as part of the Local High School Band Series sponsored by Gatesman Auto Body. If you are interested in being featured, email [email protected].
Sponsored by Gatesman Auto Body located at 28177 Route 66, Lucinda, PA 16235 – family-owned, ASE-certified, and I-CAR Gold-trained shop with old-fashioned values: honesty and integrity.