As the golden keys are pressed, high brassy sounds cut through the band room. The curled brass horn belts out high notes. Ashley Kirkstatter  sits playing away on the french horn, widely considered the hardest band instrument to play. 

In  the future Kirstatter aspires to become a band teacher “because I want to give the gift of music that I’ve been given to others,”  said Kirstatter.

But, band is not the only type of music Ashley does, he also does choir, and is a natural tenor two. Singing is an activity that occurs year round with the choir usually singing multiple different songs with Kirstatter saying out of every song, Water Night composed by Eric Whitacre was his favorite.

Kirstatter has been in Choir for four years and in Band for seven years, but the way he got into choir is “My dad one day while I was singing in the shower opened the door and said you should go and try out for the high school choir,” said Kirkstatter. 

His section of musicians he plays with point out how extremely dedicated to music Kirsatter is. “He takes the time to learn how to play his instrument better and always pushes himself even when it feels like no one else is. He pushes everyone to be better, to play better, he always plays the loudest or sings the loudest,” said Porsche Triantos, another french horn player.

In his section he also helps bring the accuracy in music, whether it is intonation, notes, rhythms, and tempo,”He…helps them learn the notes and rhythms to any song we play,” said Triantos.

Whether in band or in choir anyone who meets Kirstater knows he is truly a musician at heart, trying to always go above and beyond making every note count. “He truly loves to play his instrument with all his heart and goes above and beyond for the ensemble, his section, and especially himself,” said Triantos.