When ceremonies call for Taps, Ichiro Iizuka is often the one who plays it. The Yorktown High School senior serves as the town and school bugler, performing at 9/11, Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day ceremonies, as well as American Legion events.
Band Director Emily Kluga said Iizuka developed his expertise through a combination of band and Boy Scouts, committing himself to memorizing a wide range of historic bugle calls. She said he practices daily at school, after school and at home.
Kluga also said Iizuka agreed to switch from trumpet to French horn to help balance the ensemble, a move that allowed him additional opportunities to grow and excel musically.
“Ichiro also greatly enjoys sharing his passion for the culinary arts with our band program, baking and cooking special treats for our many events, which contributes to his awesome legacy and to our sense of Band Family,” Kluga said.
Yorktown News caught up with Iizuka, who reflected on his musical journey and what’s next.
When did your interest in music begin? I have been interested in band since about the 3rd grade. I started out loving dance at that age, which then resurfaced in my senior year of high school at YHS. In middle school, I also got into acting and singing, which continued into my freshman year. Within all of these things was my love of music.
Do you plan to continue music after high school? I will always find a way to somehow incorporate music and the arts into my life after high school. I have two equal passions, between music and the culinary arts, specifically baking and pastry making. I haven't decided between the two, nor on a specific college, but I am currently awaiting offers from SUNY WCC and SUNY Oneonta. Excitingly, I have been accepted into the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde park, New York.
Who inspires you? I have had some powerful influences around music and the arts beginning with my previous band director at White Plains High School to Ms. Kluga, my current Band Director at Yorktown High School. I of course can't forget my mom, because she was always into music and shared that love. She has supported me finding my passion, whether that was baking and the culinary arts or music.
What makes music challenging? As a longtime band student, the challenge is always to practice as much as needed and being consistent about that. I also had the challenge of having swapped instruments to help balance out the school band. I was a trumpet player, but I switched to the French Horn (which is similar to playing the trombone combined with a flute). With both of my passions in life, whether that is music or cooking, it is always about repetition and practice to get closer to perfection.
How do you spend your free time? I spend my free time trying to research and analyze more about how society functions, but I also spend time dreaming about opening up my own bakery. I like to look at various lots, and envision how that space would be someday, if I built my dream bakery there. I also really love video games, spending time with friends, and playing Dungeons & Dragons. When I was a part of the dance company or school musicals, I really enjoyed thinking of beats to songs and how that could be incorporated into my acting or dancing (although I tried hard not to do that during classes!).
What are the top five songs on your playlist? “Disney Love Medley” by Voctave (featuring Kirstin Maldonado & Jeremy Michael Lewis), “You Will Be Found” from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, “Geronimo” by Sheppard, “La Copa de la Vida” by Ricky Martin, “I'm Still Here (Jim's theme)” featured in "Treasure Planet" by John Rzeznik
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here