January Musician of the Month: Evan Rosenau
Photo submitted by Rosenau.
This January’s Musician of the Month is one of Charger Press’s editor-in-chiefs, Evan Rosenau! Rosenau is currently a senior who is a valuable asset to the Hamilton Band program. They are one of the band’s drum majors who also plays the tenor saxophone in Jazz 1, Wind Symphony, Synergy Combo, and is a part of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Junior trombonist Carter Zieger states, “Evan is a very good [tenor saxophone] player. They have definitely developed a typical skill a lot and have been an amazing combo captain so far!”
Read ahead to learn more about Rosenau!
How long have you been in band and why do you continue to do it?
I have been in band since 5th grade, so this is my 7th year. I continue to do it because I absolutely love creating music. It is a rare, rare, experience, but when you're in a concert hall under the lights or in the middle of a football field and all the harmonies align, it truly feels like heaven on Earth. I honestly feel that music is magical and those moments, those moments truly are.
What piece of advice would you give to someone who is considering joining band/jazz band?
I would say do it! Especially if you're an underclassmen, you have time! Try it out for a year and see if you like it. If you don't, you gained a new skill and met some friends! If you do, you have a new potentially life-long passion! If you are a little bit more tentative and don't want to give an entire block of your schedule to a maybe, I would for sure recommend doing jazz band, we have a lot of students who start with some kind of extracurricular band and then migrate to the standard band class, any and all paths are welcome!
What are some of your accomplishments you made this marching season as an individual/drum major?
I think a lot of the accomplishments we made as a band this marching season go beyond the music. I am most proud of the growth me and Aaralyn, my co-drum major, have had. This is our second year drum majoring together and we encountered a lot of obstacles, the most prominent being that Mr. Waite was out for almost three weeks near the end of summer/the beginning of the school year. Filling that hole, while grueling, gave me a lot of insight into my values, my personal limits, and my confidence in being a leader. For that, I am most thankful and proud.
What are your goals for yourself this year musically?
This year, I hope to continue making music with people I love. As for a specific skill, I am hoping to improve my ability in jazz improvisation and potentially to expand my range with something called altissimo, where you use an odd combination of keys on the saxophone and change your throat position to create a note beyond the saxophone's standard range.
What are other activities that you are involved in outside of band, combo, and Charger Press? What kinds of hobbies do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am a huge reader, currently I'm reading a book called You Will Get Through This Night. I would highly recommend it; I love a good memoir, though I also am a fan of realistic fiction and fantasy. I love all kinds of crafting, sewing, embroidery, etc. Not to mention, I also love a good video game.
How do you manage all the different activities that you are in?
I honestly don't know if I can give a good answer to this. A friend asked me this recently and I don't have an answer. My honest answer is I don't know if I do. I drop the ball sometimes: I have to miss a rehearsal, or am too tired to give it my best. Ultimately, the best you can do is try to manage the things you want to do, while acknowledging when you've stretched yourself too thin.
Who inspired you to become a tenor saxophone player?
Honestly, no one. I picked tenor because on my instrument try out day, the saxophone line was the shortest, and I had big hands. When I held an alto, I felt cramped, and the guy running the stand said he had this thing called a tenor. Still to this day, I haven't really played alto in a concert setting. I've done a few duets here and there and covered a song once in a while, but tenor is still my first love.
What are your post-graduation plans after high school?
Currently, I am applying to go to university in Paris at L'Université Paris-Cité Panthéon Sorbonne for political sciences. Music-wise, I would love to keep playing after highschool, though probably at a lower caliber. There's a solid music scene throughout France and I would love to participate in it however I can.
