Senior Elise Luzietti has a long history of musical involvement at LHS, being a prominent figure in both jazz and marching bands. This year, she is the drum major of the marching band and has enjoyed leading their successful season. She plays a variety of instruments, including the flute and the saxophone.
Luzietti began her music career in 4th grade playing the saxophone but switched to flute in 8th grade to make up for the number of flute players who left the band the previous year.
“I started playing flute in eighth grade and when the pandemic hit, I didn’t want my life to go to shambles, so when most people woke up at 11 in the morning and played video games throughout the day, I was like ‘I’m gonna do something with my time,’ and I practiced a bunch and I started liking it more and more,” said Luzietti.
She started playing for the LHS band in 2020 amid the pandemic and didn’t get to perform for her entire first year.
“Freshman year we didn’t compete, we just had a weird spring show, we wanted to do something for the community as well as the seniors in the band.”
Since freshman year, she has grown immensely as a musician and is proud of her accomplishments.
“It’s kind of crazy just thinking where I came from and where I’ve gotten to.”
As drum major, Luzietti has already had many experiences that have only fueled her love for music. One of her favorite moments so far this year was her first competition.
“I’ve been in competitions where our scores get announced and all the drum majors walk onto the field and salute and represent our schools and where I’m able to talk to the other students who are like-minded. It’s a really cool experience.”
At first, Luzietti was unsure whether she wanted to continue her musical career in college, but summer camps and a saxophone concierto by Steven Banks influenced her decision to follow her passion.
“Second semester of my sophomore year, I saw Steven Banks perform a saxophone concierto and that was such an inspirational moment for me because I was like, ‘that’s what I want to do in college, I want to be a classical saxophone major.’ I’ve since changed but that was a big moment for me. Junior year, I had a lot of courses and I thought I was gonna be an engineer, but then I did two music camps this summer and I was able to experience the classical side and the jazz side. Hearing all that great music, I was like, ‘that’s I want to do with my life, I want to go into college and study music, preferably jazz, and make a living teaching, and playing,’ because that just means more to me than some sort of academic thing.”
One of Luzietti’s accomplishments includes attending an intensive saxophone summer camp for the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she got to work with Dr. Timothy McAllister, a renowned saxophonist and educator. Through the school, she received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award showing by showing her participation and leadership in jazz band. Last year, she was also an alternate alto saxophonist for the Colorado All-State Jazz Band.
Luzietti emphasizes that after all of her musical experience, music has a special place in her heart.
“Music can connect with people on a different level than anything else because it’s something you’re hearing but it’s not talking, it’s a special form of non-verbal communication.”
“I’m proud to be able to share what I can do with my peers and the community. I think it means more than getting some sort of sticker or saying that you did a good job; you know in your soul that what you’re doing is important.”
