Bro. Martin trombonist among ‘All-American’ elite

Already home to one of Louisiana’s top high school trombonists, Brother Martin now can claim a nationally touted player of the sliding brass instrument nicknamed the “bone,” the “t-bone” and the “slushpump.”

Brett Storms, the first-chair trombonist and drum major of Brother Martin’s Crusader Marching Band, is one of 125 hand-picked musicians slated to perform at the half-time show of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 7.

Bowl representatives visited Brother Martin’s gym Oct. 31 to present Brett with his official bowl jacket and a five-day, all-expenses-paid trip to San Antonio.

“When I saw the e-mail, the first word I saw was ‘congratulations,’ and immediately I was just elated. My heart skipped a beat,” said Brett, 17, the son of Mark and Barbara Storms and a parishioner of St. Clement of Rome. “I didn’t really expect to make the band, even though I had worked really hard. It just felt like everything came together, and all my work paid off.”

The arduous audition process, which began in January, involved Brett’s online submission of three videotapes to the National Association of Music Education: one of Brett playing the trombone solo of his choice; a second of him playing a pre-assigned piece while marching; and a third featuring Brett’s answers to a set of interview questions.

Brett was encouraged to audition by Marty Hurley, his Brother Martin band director who passed away Sept. 12 following a stroke.

“Mr. Hurley always pushed me to be better, to reach my full potential,” Brett said. “Even when I didn’t believe in myself, he believed in me. He taught us by example to strive for excellence in everything we do.”

Hurley’s successor, Dominick Caronna, said Brett is a “very accomplished” trombonist who has earned all-state honors annually since his sophomore year.

Leading by example

“He’s just a good kid,” Caronna said. “He’s a gentleman, and I’ve never seen anyone work harder than Brett. You won’t find anyone more serious about what he’s doing, especially when it comes time to play music,” he said, noting Brett’s significant leadership skills.

“He’s got a lot of presence when he gets out in front  (of his band members) – when he speaks they listen,” Caronna said. “What it all comes down to is that he’s such a great musician, and I think that that’s where his leadership power comes from – it’s because of his musicianship, his talent.”

Brett took up the trombone as a St. Clement of Rome fourth grader, inspired by Mike Genevay, his elementary school band director and fellow trombonist.

“The trombone has a unique sound,” Brett said. “It  really captures the ‘voice’ of the music more so than any other instrument,” he said, describing the trombone’s sound as “euphonious,” or pleasing to the ear.

“It’s about muscle memory – remembering where each slide position is,” Brett explained. Unlike other brass players, trombonists produce different notes by sliding a bar over the instrument’s air valves, rather than fingering them.

“As you slide down (on the trombone) the pitch lowers, because the air has to travel through more distance,” Brett said. Multiple notes can be sounded at each slide position by pursing the lips differently – the tighter the lips, the higher the note.

A future Tiger?

Although he has yet to make a final decision, Brett, a member of Mu Alpha Theta and the National Honor Society, plans to attend Louisiana State University and audition for a coveted spot in the Tiger Marching Band. He said he feels lucky to have honed his performing skills in Brother Martin’s band program, which he considers to be “the best in New Orleans.” In addition to having access to a band room with great acoustics and space to fit the entire 100-member band and drum line, Brother Martin’s  musicians have two practice rooms that are available to them during their daily “unstructured” period.

“Mr. Caronna stepped in and has done a fantastic job,” Brett said. “He’s exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

Brett’s selection marks the second consecutive year a Brother Martin band member has been tapped to perform at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Last year, drum major Matthew Keegan made the cut for the elite group of teenage musicians.

An East vs. West battle of the nation’s top 90 senior high school football players, the bowl game will air Jan. 7 on NBC.

Beth Donze can be reached at [email protected].