Color Guard

It is said that variety is the spice of life. For Lindsey Tillison, an always-smiling tenth grader from Nesbit, variety IS life.

Born in Denver Colorado to Joe and Brenda, Lindsey moved to North Mississippi when she was just three years old, and enrolled at Desoto Central as a fourth grader. After hearing that a stringed instrument course would be offered during her sixth grade year, she signed up. Already a student of the violin, being a member of a string group seemed a good way to build her skills. However, before the school year started, the course was cancelled and Lindsey was automatically put in the band program. After over four years of performing with The Pride, she has no misgivings about her decision to stick with the band. Although she has been a dedicated flute player (originally she wanted to play trumpet, but a new set of braces got in the way) this year she decided to try something new and perform as a member of the color guard.

Even though she derives great satisfaction from her role in the band, relatively speaking, it is one of the more mundane aspects of Lindsey’s life. Her interests are many and point to a desire for living life to the full. She studied gymnastics for 12 years, “But I recently got out of gymnastics, and now I am looking for other stuff to do,” Lindsey said. With a new license, driving has become something of a passion lately. When asked if she was driving yet, she immediately responded, “YES! Hallelujah! I love driving!” she exclaimed. “I’m a very independent person,” indicating her new found love for being out on her own on the open roads. Other favored activities include frequent phone conversations with her dad, who lives in California. “I also volunteer at my church a lot. My church is so awesome,” she added in describing her enthusiasm for the folks at Longview Heights Baptist Church, where she works with young children on Sunday nights and does “…the whole youth group thing.” A licensed scuba diver since she was 12 years old, Lindsey looks forward to each opportunity to go exploring underwater. “Me and my mom [were licensed] together,” she explained. “We go on one or two diving trips a year…but my favorite place to go is Belize.” In describing a diving experience off the Central American coast last summer, it was obvious that this was Lindsey’s most memorable dive. “It was so pretty. I saw so many different species…it was just really cool!”

That experience has also spawned an interest in a possible career as a Marine Biologist. “I would probably want to study deep sea animals, but I’m not sure,” said Lindsey. She is hoping her current high school class in Marine Biology will help her to narrow her focus somewhat, or maybe go in a completely different direction, like International Relations. As a member of the school’s International Club, she is learning about other countries and cultures, and developing an interest in that field of study as well.

Lindsey’s desire to get out and begin testing her independent spirit will play a big role in any decision concerning career choices, however. Even though she has a few years to go in high school, Lindsey is already looking down the road to college as a chance to test the waters of living on her own. “I don’t want to live in Mississippi,” she explained. “I want to go somewhere else….live abroad.” And in keeping with that desire, she is leaving open all of her options in selecting where to go to college. “I want to go to an Ivy League school, or something like the Marines or Air Force [Academy],” she added. The chance for worldwide travel is what makes a life in the military an attractive option for her. “I am not really sure exactly what I want to do…I’ll let God decide what I’m going to do,” Lindsey said in expressing that she is really leaving all her options open.

Gymnast, student of the violin, flute, and piccolo, color guard member, new driver, scuba diver, budding marine biologist and diplomat, and church volunteer-all of these describe the diverse life of Lindsey Tillison. If variety truly is the spice of life, then wherever life takes her, she already has most of the ingredients in hand to make it a life worth living.

Bass Clarinet

Remember those stories that every parent tells their school age children. The one about having to walk three miles through knee deep snow in bare feet to get to school? This week’s Band Member of the Week can almost identify with those tall tales of harrowing school commutes. Okay, maybe not the part about the bare feet, but Andrew Urlacher definitely remembers venturing out into some mighty cold weather during his daily journey to and from school in his earlier years.

He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (that would explain his affinity for cheese), to Pete and Christian Urlacher (the band uniform lady). When Andrew was nine years old, his Dad’s job as a heavy equipment parts supplier took the family a little further south to the little town of Waverly, Iowa. “It was really cold,” he recalled of his time in the northern plains. What does he think about living in Mississippi? “It’s really warm…too warm. I liked the cold weather up there better than I like the hot weather down here,” he explained.

Andrew’s interest in music started in a fourth grade music class. After trying several instruments, he followed the suggestion of his teacher and settled on the clarinet. Although there was an early emphasis on music, he admits that his school in Iowa did not have the strong band program he encountered at Desoto Central when the family moved to Southaven three years ago. “If we had stayed in Iowa, I probably would have dropped out of band,” he said. “[That school] was more interested in football and sports.”

This year, Andrew has traded in his familiar B-flat clarinet for the bass clarinet. As a whole, he believes the volume and depth of the low brass and low winds sections has improved noticeably this year, adding to the overall quality of the sound of the band. He was happy to do his part by moving back one row and picking up the bass. It just seemed the logical thing to do.

And logical thinking has a certain appeal. “I guess that’s why I like my math classes most,” Andrew observed. As a sophomore, he is tackling two math subjects at once this year-geometry and algebra II. The logical progressions used to solve most math problems just comes naturally to him. “It just makes sense to me,” he said. Right now, his academic priorities are focused on passing his classes in World History, English and Global Marketing. Global Marketing? “It’s my toughest class,” he said. “I wound up in there when the Web Design class filled up.” Web Design? Global Marketing? Are these real classes, or just clubs and extracurricular activities? “No, Global Marketing is a real class, and it’s hard,” he said with a serious look.

Despite all of this higher education and strengths in handling mathematical problems Andrew still remains unsure where his college studies will take him. He just knows that he will go to college somewhere. “Most likely,” Andrew observed, “it will be where ever I can get the best scholarships.” For now, he is considering continuing his music studies, possibly getting a degree in music.

Thinking about such things may be a little too distant to worry about right now. After all, sometimes it is good to just enjoy being 15 and Andrew enjoys doing other things besides just thinking about his future. After some encouragement from fellow band member Scott May, he has been putting his music talents to good use by playing in the orchestra at Trinity Baptist Church. Other favorite past time activities include hanging out with his friends, watching television or reading a good fantasy novel. “Right now I’m reading ‘The Dark Elf Trilogy’.” He has also seen all of the “Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars” adventures-some more than once. His favorite movie? “Revenge of the Sith”

Despite these other interests, his band related activities still dominate. What is Andrew most looking forward to this year in the band program? Going to the Hollywood Christmas Parade. His only regret, since the trip occurs over Thanksgiving break, is that he will not get more days off from school. Maybe he would feel better if there were a few feet of snow on the ground to wade through. At least then it would be like old times.