HANK GUO

Not many can claim to have visited the Marble Music Machine, a complex and intricate instrument that lives in the Netherlands. Zach Kohnen ’21, is one of the few, displaying his interest in the combination of engineering and music, his two passions. 

 

Having played piano for 11 years, trombone for eight, and accordion for two, Kohnen has been a part of the Concert Band and Pep Band for all four years of high school. He believes that  Concert Band has helped create friendships and a community among its students.   

 

“Being in a band and being around people that you like, sitting right next to someone else who has similar interests, and who plays the same instrument, along with being able to make music together, fosters community,” said Kohnen. 

 

Through participation in competitions like the Great East Competition in 2018 and the Massachusetts Instrument Choral and Conductor Association (MICCA) Festival Competition in 2017, where the high school Concert Band received a silver award, Kohnen has strengthened his friendships with peers while also developing his teamwork skills to create music. 

 

“When you're playing music in the band room, you're playing it for yourself... But then having these competitions, it unites everyone in the band,” said Kohnen.

 

Kohnen attributes the community that has been built up to Concert Band director, Mr. Steven Scott.

 

“Mr. Scott’s love for music radiates in the classroom and makes me excited to play.  The friendships that I’ve made in the band are some of the most meaningful relationships I’ve had in high school, said Kohnen. Kohnen shared that he met his best friend in the band and that she was part of the reason that he continued in the band each year.

 

Abby Duffy ’21 and Elliot Kovacs ’21, both trumpeters in the Concert Band, emphasize the role Concert Band has played in their friendship with Kohnen. 

 

“We get to go to the pep band games together and hang out because our sections are close to each other,” said Duffy. “We also have been together since middle school, and it is one of the reasons we are such good friends.” 

 

Concert Band has helped develop his friendships with other band members and continued to act as a space where they can interact.
 

Mr. Scott affirms Kohnen’s ability to create a positive environment and highlights his tenacity in music and dedication to the Concert Band. 

 

“His thoughtful comments in our class discussions and helpful leadership in his section contribute to an effective and successful ensemble experience for the rest of the group. There is no question that Zach's contribution over the years to the WHS Concert Band has been an important part of the success of this ensemble during his time with the group,” said Scott.

 

Kohnen always looks forward to working with those around him to create a stronger community.  

 

“The more people you have working on something, the better the result can be. Being able to have a trombone, a flute, clarinet, a saxophone, a trumpet, all of those different voices, making the music, it makes it more vivid,” said Kohnen. 

 

Kohnen also marched in Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend parade and played at the Performing Arts Department’s Winter Concert Series. He believes that Concert Band enables him to create a balance between music and daily life, allowing him to pursue other hobbies, like computer science, hockey, and music. 

 

“Concert band at WHS allowed me to continue to participate in the Performing Arts Department while not demanding all my time and efforts. I always had fun at the school holiday concerts and extracurricular activities,” said Kohnen. 

 

“Band is relaxing, and it’s nice. It's something that brings me away from just the monotony of normal schoolwork...it's helped diversify what I've been doing in school and I've thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Kohnen.

 

Although Kohnen does not seek to pursue music in college, he looks to keep it as a hobby and continue to incorporate it into his interest in engineering and other elements of his life. Next year he will attend Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, where he plans to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering.