Senior Ethan Steiner has been playing instruments since he was 7 years old, starting out with guitar. He now plays guitar, electric bass, upright bass and some piano.
“I feel like I’m involved in something, and it’s fun to make music with people. But listening, it’s almost like another kind of practice,” Steiner said. “I’m listening to things I can use when I play with other people or just looking for more things to play, or just because I like listening to it.”
Band director Thorne Banks has known Steiner for three years and describes him as a hardworking student.
“I think he’s really dedicated to the instrument,” Banks said. “Ethan is also just a really nice and caring human being. I think that’s really unique that he’s great at both things.”
Both Banks and Steiner agree Steiner’s leadership skills have strengthened over the years.
“I am comfortable with myself and my musicianship that I can push other people up and help them perform better and be better musicians,” Steiner said. “I feel like that’s a hard skill to have, and I feel like I’m good at it.”
Steiner plans to major in jazz music or music education and has received thousands of dollars in scholarships.
“I submitted some scholarship appeals to Eastman School of Music because they’re only going to take four bass players in the whole country, and I was one of them,” Steiner said. “It’s such a beautiful place, and I would love to attend.”
As of April 24, Steiner has decided to go to Eastman and already has plans to put his potential degrees to use post-college.
“The end goal of it all is to be a Broadway pit musician or a teacher somewhere,” Steiner said. “I’m just excited for my future. I have so many things I can do.”
No matter where Steiner ends up, Banks is excited to see his choice.
“What school he goes to is kind of the next exciting thing. And then I’m sure he’ll either move to a city where he can have students of his own or he’ll record albums or he’ll be touring,” Banks said. “I know he’s going to do something really incredible in music.”
