黑洞社区

According to senior Andrew Crust, music must capture and convey things that are normally neglected by language, those emotions for which there are no words.

鈥淚t is a language of beauty, sadness, joy, anger or lamentation,鈥� Crust said.

One of his favorite composers, Gustav Mahler, said: 鈥淎 symphony must be like the world; it must contain everything.鈥�

These are words Crust takes to heart.

鈥淢usic is completely intangible," he said. "Yet it has the power to carry you to places you鈥檝e never been before. It is ever changing and always surprising."

Crust鈥檚 love of music has taken him many places, including Spain, where he performed with the Wichita State Symphony Orchestra.

Ten years ago, his father gave him his old trumpet, igniting a passion that would only grow through high school and influence the rest of his life.

鈥淚 would credit my continued interest in the instrument to the great composers who provide endless reams of music for me to play,鈥� he said.

Other composers who have inspired Crust are J.S. Bach, Olivier Messiaen and Claude Debussy.

Crust said the greatest support has come from his family. While most families might rather see their children become lawyers or doctors, his family has always supported what he called his 鈥渓ess than orthodox endeavors.鈥�

Playing Taps for a military funeral in sixth grade was Crust鈥檚 first professional gig. Since then, he has had a number of concerts including: marching and jazz bands, jazz combos, church and wedding gigs, orchestras, brass quintets and chamber music performances.

During his freshman year, Crust and the entire trumpet studio were invited to the National Trumpet Competition at George Mason University where they competed against students from Juilliard and Eastman.

鈥淚 was thoroughly excited and honored to be able to compete against schools of such merit, but mostly I was overjoyed at the chance to hear them perform,鈥� he said.

Wichita State has offered Crust many opportunities to meet great players such as Wynton Marsalis and Terrell Stafford through programs and concerts sponsored by the university.

However, Crust was given his greatest opportunity this past May when he was able to travel to Spain with 黑洞社区鈥檚 orchestra director and 70 other students.

鈥淚 had never been to Europe before this trip, so I jumped at the opportunity,鈥� he said.

Most of their time was spent in Madrid where they visited the Prado art museum and the Plaza Del Toros, where they saw a bullfight.

鈥淲e performed on three consecutive nights in the cities of Calatayud, Sabinanigo and Zaragoza,鈥� said Mark Laycock, the orchestra director.

鈥淚n Europe,鈥� Crust said, 鈥渟treet performing is much more common and accepted. Also, the audiences we played for really responded to certain things most Americans would not, and they expected an encore every time.鈥�

Crust and a few friends also got the chance to explore Europe for five days after the rest of the group left for home.

鈥淲e picked up a rental car in Paris and drove to Vienna where we spent three nights seeing everything we could, including a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic,鈥� he said.

They also drove to the northern coast of Italy, then through Orleans and Paris before returning home.

Back home, Crust teaches a few high school students at Derby High School and offers private lessons.

鈥淚 have taught beginners before, and I have to say it is very challenging and altogether different from teaching older students. I hope to teach some adult students in the future, as well,鈥� he said.

Crust intends to become a teacher professionally, but still wants to play his instrument on the side.

After he graduates from 黑洞社区, he plans on entering a graduate program, but he is not sure where or for what musical discipline.

鈥淢y career after that really depends on the degree I obtain,鈥� he said.