When freshman Austin Spinner first walked in for an audition for Jazz band last May, the head of honors Jazz band Mr. Moramarco knew something special was in the making.

This school year, Austin Spinner became the first freshman in Mr. Moramarcos time at the school to make honors jazz band.

“When walking in for my first tryout, I knew that no matter what happened, it was the right decision,” Spinner said. “I rehearsed in those days coming up to it.”

Austin works with a program called Jazz U, which teaches him private lessons. He has been playing piano for around 8 years in total.

“When he came in for audition he really impressed me right off the bat,”  Mr. Moramarco said.”Its rare that a freshman would have ever been in the honors Jazz group until now”.

Austin Spinner made the team partially in part to his ability to improvise and make up music that fits the song that the Jazz band needs to play.

“For me, it’s curiosity, exploring it, trying to find new symbols,” Austin Spinner said. “I prefer to improvise over playing songs that have already been made.”

Austin plans to use his skills to give back to the school’s community this school year by playing at masses and getting gigs with the school. Austin played at the Christmas mass last year and plans to take any opportunity that involves playing the piano.

“I’m always eager to play any piano I find in public,” Spinner said. “The unexpected gigs are fun because they’ve allowed me to meet people who’ve given me a lot of guidance.”

While not playing for the honors Jazz band, Austin takes strides in building a music career by running a musical youtube channel to show off his skills, StinSpin, which just surpassed 400 subscribers along with sharing his music on his personal instagram account.

“I try to do all that I can do to prepare for a musical career,” Spinner said. “ I’m getting gigs, improving my technique, producing, and meeting new people so that I can be prepared if that’s what I choose to focus on after high school.”

Spinner is filled with satisfaction not only that he made the team, but because he gets to work with the same people and build bonds for numerous years.

“When I found out I made the team, I was excited because I know I get to be there for a while.” Spinner said. “I always like being in a band because you get to work with people.”