Chasdyn King is the first Pierce County Middle School student to make the Georgia Music Education Association (GMEA) All-State band since 2015, which is just one of the muscial milestones for this dedicated trumpet player.
King is also second chair trumpet in the state for middle school and will perform in the All-State Band in Athens at the end of this month. On top of that, the young musician has also earned 1st chair in the GMEA District 8 Honor Band.
The upcoming District 8 Honor Band Clinic will be held February 21-22 at Ware County High School. King qualifying for this elite group makes middle school band teacher Monica Dockery very proud.
“Chasdyn is an incredibly talented and dedicated student. Her drive to succeed and gift of music has already led her to great success in band,” says Dockery. “It has been a joy to teach Chasdyn these past 3 years in band and I’m excited to see what she will continue to accomplish in the future.” King’s musical journey began in sixth grade. She had joined the band late in the year and many spots were already taken.
“Trumpet only had three people,” King recalls. “So, I thought I would try.”
From that one decision, came many accomplishments. In 7th grade, King earned 3rd chair in the District 8 Honor Band and 2nd chair in the South Georgia Region Honor Band. By eighth grade, she was marching with the high school’s Sound of Silver marching band. So far, King has marched in performances for all the recent parades, homecoming, Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as well as football games.
Before that could happen, she needed an instrument. Her father’s boss had a trumpet up in his attic she could use. If she wanted it and turned out to be good at it, the instrument was hers for the taking.
King recalls receiving the vintage trumpet. “You have to give your intrument a bath sometimes,” King says. “So I soaked it in the tub to clean it and a big splinter came floating up from inside it.”
That first instrument sustained her up to a point, but once King’s talent became apparent her parents were informed that when she peaked on that trumpet they would have to upgrade her to a newer one.
Eighth grader Chasdyn King in her uniform for playing with the Sound of Silver marching band.
Parents Dee and Tommy King are very proud of their daughter, but say that they are just her “cheering section”, giving Chasyn all the credit for her success.
“She is very hard on herself,” Dee says. Tommy agrees, saying, “She is her own worst critic.”
“It depends on if I’m doing good on it or not,” Chasdyn explains. “If I’m messing up, I’m just mad.”
Dad Tommy asks his daughter, “Yeah, but how do you feel when it all goes right?”
“It’s enjoyable,” Chasdyn replies. “Very rewarding.”
King’s rapid advancement as a trumpet player is a mix of natural talent and hard work. “(Middle school band instructor) Mrs. Dockery said Chasdyn was a good natural musician,” Dee says.
“I do practice quite a bit,” King adds. “I don’t take the trumpet I use at school home everyday, but I keep one at the house.”
Multiple instruments, one for home and one for school, facilitate King taking lessons from a music teacher in the neighboring county.
Asked if she has a favorite trumpet player, King says she does not listen to individual players, preferring to hear pieces played by entire bands. “If we get a new piece of music for school, I’ll pull it up online and listen to it.”
Her mother takes a moment to mention that the young musician does listen to other kinds of music. However, when it comes to the trumpet, Chasdyn is focused on its place within the sound of the entire perf0rmance.
Recalling her reception by the older students in the marching band, Chasdyn says the entire group of high schoolers, especially her fellow trumpet players, were very welcoming.
“The band kids are all very family oriented,” says Dee King. “We’ve heard people say that band kids are friends for life.”
Asked if she has a competitive streak driving her to succeed, King pauses for a moment before responding. “I wouldn’t describe myself as competitive, but my dad says I am. If I am in the competition already, I’m going to play to win. That’s the only way.”
King’s mother attributes it to her daughter’s own personal standards, “She’s a perfectionist and has very high expectations of herself.”
As for her future beyond high school, Chasdyn says, “I would like to go to UGA and be part of the Redcoats (the University of Georgia’s marching band).”
King was already previously selected to attend the UGA MidFest Band Clinic and earned 4th chair in the Honor Band, which was the top performing group at the event, so she has already begun proving what she can do.
Her dad fully supports his daughter joining the Redcoats, adding with a laugh, “Especially if I can get tickets to some Bulldogs’ games out of it.”
And after college? “I hope it is always part of my life,” King says. “Even if I don’t play for a living, I would still play.”
