KENT ISLAND — (November 21, 2019) — Senior Connor Wackowski is the Queen Anne’s County Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts “Teen of the Week” for Kent Island High School (KIHS). Ms. Mogensen, Director of Bands, KIHS, selected Connor for this spotlight because of his tremendous dedication to the KIHS Instrumental Program.
Connor entered the program as a tenor saxophone player and transitioned to the tuba when Ms. Mogensen asked for volunteers to expand the low brass instrumentation. Connor has also dedicated much of time throughout his high school career taking private tuba lessons and performing in all of the ensembles available to students through KIHS, including: Marching Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and the Musical Pit Orchestra. In addition to the performing ensembles, Connor enrolled in AP Music Theory and interns with Ms. Mogensen for the all-freshman Concert Band classes.
Outside of his school responsibilities, Connor dedicates his spring and summer weekends rehearsing with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum & Bugle Corps in Hawthorne, NJ. He travels to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York improving his brass and marching technique and competing with the drum corps. In addition to the marching ensemble, Connor still practices and competes with several ice hockey teams throughout the state of Maryland.
“Connor is an incredible example of a student who is fiercely dedicated to the KIHS Band program, as well as constantly improving his craft,” says Ms. Mogensen. “He sets a great example for other students who are interested in playing sports and marching an instrument while maintaining other music-related and school commitments.”
Ms. Mogensen is very thankful for students like Connor who create a culture of hard work and commitment in all that they do. Mogensen feels it is very important to leave high school with experiences that help students become well-rounded citizens, and Connor is certainly a great example of this—he’s a student who has dedicated his time to being a well-rounded student and a productive member of our community.