WS Chronicle

Next month Isaac Cooper, a senior at Reynolds High School, will have the opportunity of a lifetime when he performs with students from around the world at Carnegie Hall. 

A member of the marching band, concert band and the orchestra at Reynolds, Cooper said he picked up the trumpet about five years ago and never looked back. During an interview with The Chronicle, Cooper said he initially wanted to play the saxophone but he couldn’t find a teacher. But the stars aligned and he was introduced to his first trumpet instructor, Brian Roberts, and the rest is history. 

“I was pretty skeptical at first because I wanted to play saxophone but I figured I would just see how it would go. But over time, I learned to really enjoy it and I’m happy I made that choice.” Cooper said. 

When he first started playing, Cooper said he would practice six to seven hours a day. He said he would spend hours working on one note, trying to perfect his craft. Cooper’s hard work and determination earned him All-County, All-State and even national recognition. In 2017 Cooper had the opportunity to play with students from the country during Nationals in Florida. 

For the opportunity to play in the 2019 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, Cooper only had to fill out an application. The fact that his talents had already been recognized on a national stage, he was able to skip the recommendation process. 

Despite all the accolades he’s received since picking up the trumpet, Cooper remains humble.  Johnathan Hamiel, who has been the band teacher at Reynolds for the past three years said, “This could not have happened to a sweeter, more humble, more talented student. 

“He’s the person who helps other students and goes the extra mile, in marching band, in concert band and jazz band.” 

Cooper said, “I try to make it a point to not come off as pompous or being a naturalist when it comes to playing trumpet because it took a lot of practice. The younger kids never see the years of practice I put in to get to this moment.

“…Getting into Carnegie Hall is reflective of how much effort I put into it.” 

Cooper, his parents and Hameil will travel to New York Feb. 7-11 with the performance at Carnegie Hall scheduled for Monday, Feb. 11. 

When asked what is going to be going through his mind when he walks out to perform on one of the biggest platforms in the world, Cooper said the first thing he’s going to do is try to find his parents to help comfort feelings of stage fright.

“After I find my parents, the next thing I’ll do is look at my music because that ultimately just takes me to a different place,” he said.