Senior Aurore Baptiste knew she wanted to become a musician in sixth grade. Going to school in Haiti at the time, sixth grade was the first chance for students to choose their own elective classes, including music. “I always liked music, in every shape or form, so joining band was no surprise,” Baptiste explained. On the first day of band class, a gaggle of excited students surrounded a table full of instruments. Waiting for everyone else to choose before her, Baptiste stood patiently, but she already knew what she wanted. Her eyes were set on the choice before her, the instrument gazing back at her in gleaming brass. “Every time I think of that moment,” she mused, “I believe that I was meant to play the trumpet.”
Baptiste’s relationship with the trumpet was not free of twists and turns; after no longer having time for band lessons in Haiti, she fell out of practice with the instrument, until she moved to the United States in ninth grade. Living with her aunt at the time, who encouraged her to fall back into playing the trumpet, Baptiste embraced LHS’s resources: “It just felt right; you couldn’t imagine the excitement that I had when my guidance counselor told me that she was going to put me in Symphonic Band.”
To Baptiste, the trumpet is more than just an instrument. “[It has] only three valves, and with them and enough air, you can play any kind of note,” she remarked in delight. Committed to pursuing the unique possibilities of her instrument, Baptiste works tirelessly to further her skills, practicing for hours out of pure love for her craft. Now, she has found an easy rhythm, bouncing between two genres chiefly – classical and jazz – but has become comfortable playing any genre, even pop music, which has provided her with a solid foundation with her craft. “I spend most of my time learning a song that I like, or replicating a classical solo from YouTube videos. I also look up other [musicians] that are demonstrating how to do things like triple tonguing, or reaching a high note.”
Beyond playing in Wind Ensemble in school, Baptiste enjoys playing in many other groups, including Brass Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Jazz Ensemble. “My most memorable performance was during last year’s [Jazz ‘n’ Pop Concert]. The Jazz Combo and I played ‘Lingus’ by Snarky Puppy. I honestly don’t recall playing a song [ever] as perfectly as I did that night, it was unbelievable.”
Baptiste draws much of her inspiration from jazz musicians, and has particularly looked up to the American trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis: “I love, still to this day, how he plays classical music, specifically ‘Carnival of Venice.’ It’s very challenging, [and] I am still learning it.” Recently, Baptiste has begun to look up to Arturo Sandoval, a Cuban-American trumpeter who is famous for his intricate compositions for the trumpet. “Ever since I [first heard] ‘Funky Cha-Cha,’ I fell in love,” she gushed.
Citing her family as a grounding force in encouraging her musical career, Baptiste emphasized how her aunt has particularly motivated her, immediately coaxing her to take up the trumpet once again when she moved to the United States. “I am forever grateful [to her]…she always wanted me to play an instrument,” Baptiste explained.
Band teacher Zachary Rifkind believes Baptiste’s dedication to her craft is what truly makes her shine as a musician: “Aurore is naturally exceptional, and combines that talent with an iron-clad work ethic. It is my great pleasure to work with her each day,” he emphasized.
Though Baptiste is unsure as to what she would like to study in university, she hopes that playing the trumpet will continue to be a cherished and constant hobby. “I hope to still be able to feel as free as I do, every day I play,” Baptiste avowed.
