Older Brothers Inspire Triple-Threat Musician and Athlete
Gavin is a percussionist in the MYS Symphony Orchestra and a 10th grader at Providence Academy. He studies percussion with Derrick Raiter and bassoon with Dr. Ariel Detwiler.
For Gavin, music isn’t just an activity—it’s a family tradition. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Brandon, he started percussion the summer before fourth grade. “I just really wanted to be like my brother,” he recalls. Brandon’s impressive four-year membership in Symphony Orchestra set a high bar that fueled Gavin’s determination. “That made me want to be in Symphony even more,” he says.
But Brandon wasn’t the only one paving the way for his younger brother. Gavin grew up listening to his oldest brother Nathan, who played in MYS for two years, practice bassoon. When their high school band found itself without a bassoonist after Nathan graduated, Gavin was offered the perfect opportunity. “I love percussion, but I always wanted to do something more melodic. You obviously don’t get a lot of that in percussion,” he explains. The bassoon offers a woodwind counterpart to the marimba—Gavin’s favorite percussion instrument—each with a similar melodic tone and technical challenges. “I just love the sound. And you can do so much with double mallets and triple mallets. It’s really fun!” His musical versatility was recently recognized when he was accepted to the MBDA State Honor Band on both bassoon and percussion. He’s now awaiting the results of his first set of MMEA auditions.
Outside of music, Gavin is a standout ice hockey player who trains and plays year-round. As the highest-scorer on Providence Academy’s varsity team, he has been honing his skills since he first took up the sport at five years old. This season’s quarterfinal victory over rival Breck, sealed by Gavin’s winning goal, was a definite highlight. Playing left wing, he remains calm under pressure and believes in the importance of a positive mindset, strong team camaraderie, and consistent training. Gavin sees several intersections between the worlds of hockey and music. He explains: “Hockey and orchestra are actually very similar because you get the pre-nervousness of a concert on the ice. A hockey game is also played out like an orchestra piece. Everyone is focused on their position, but it is team play that delivers the wins! You must be as aware of your teammates’ individual plays as you are of your own.”
Balancing his many commitments takes discipline. Access to all of his percussion instruments at home, late night practice hours, accommodating organizations, and instructors who teach on Sundays all help make it possible. “Saturdays can be long with MYS, Rimshots! and even varsity hockey games, but it all seems to work when I stay focused. I love every opportunity and experience.” While tradition and talent have shaped Gavin's path, his success is ultimately driven by hard work, dedication, and a competitive edge—both on stage and on the ice.
