Arts Student of the Week-Alexis Marez

When Niwot senior and trombone player Alexis Marez learned that he had been named first chair for the All-District honor band earlier this year, he was not sure how to take it.

"I guess I shouldn't have been, but I was surprised to hear that I was even nominated for first chair," he said. "I haven't gotten anything like that before. There was a total of around 10 trombones, and to be the first one in the entire district, it was surreal."

It was also well deserved, according to NHS band director Wade Hendricks.

"Alexis has been a huge contributor to the performance, energy, and spirit of the band since his freshman year," Hendricks wrote in an email. "He had an excellent audition season, earning a place in the Combined League Honor Band, and being recognized as first chair trombone in the district. He works really hard to mentor our younger members and is an excellent role model for them."

The mentoring role was one that did not come naturally to Marez, so seeing his hard work in that area pay off was especially satisfying.

"Before my junior year, I was less open, I didn't talk that much, and I was just another player in the band," he said. "But during my junior year, I started stepping up because I was going to have to be a leader in my senior year, especially to the freshmen and sophomores that didn't have an actual marching experience because of COVID."

Along with the district honor, Marez also won a spot in the prestigious Combined League Honor Band after a grueling but ultimately enjoyable audition.

"It was challenging, but it showed that to get into this band was going to be a struggle, but you felt that you were going to be part of something amazing, and the band itself felt like all the students were trying to achieve something greater than themselves."

In a similar vein, Marez has come to view the NHS marching band as one extended family, and said his best memories of high school are from his time performing with them.

"It just feels like a family community," he said. "It feels like a place where you belong, no matter who you are."