Around 8:15 every Friday night, Bruce High School senior Haylie Brown steps to the forefront with her trumpet. With the Trojan Marching Band standing at attention behind her, she delivers her solo.
“It’s pretty nerve racking to me,” Haylie said. “I’m nervous all day Friday leading up to it. I’m constantly trying to calm myself down and just breathe.”
To listen to her play, it’s hard to fathom why she’s so nervous. She is among the top ranked trumpet players in the state in competition.
Haylie explained her nervousness is a product of her own expectations for herself.
“My fear is not performing as well as I have in the past,” she said. “I feel like a lot is expected out of me, and I don’t want to disappoint.”
Haylie was first turned on to music in the sixth grade when she was attending school at Lake Cormorant.
“I joined the band there just because that’s what all my friends were doing. Then I discovered I really loved it,” Haylie said. “When all my friends dropped out, I was still there.”
She tried all kinds of instruments, but ultimately settled on trumpet because it felt like a natural fit.
“I think trumpet chose me,” Haylie said. “It just came so easy to me right away.”
Part of the connection was the sound.
“It has more of a musical sound than just a loud noise as some of the other instruments,” Haylie said. “It’s pretty to me.”
Her love for the sound was evident in her playing. She was discovered to be an instant talent and was promoted to the high school band while still in the sixth grade.
She would go on to try out for the Mississippi Lions All State Band and earn a very coveted spot. They traveled to Seattle and Canada performing in numerous competitions – an experience Haylie said she will never forget.
“That was one of the highlights to me traveling like that with a group that really loves music,” Haylie said. “We were competing with bands from all over the world.”
Almost three years ago she moved to Bruce with her parents Bobbie and Timothy Stevens and quickly assimilated into the Trojan Marching Band at BHS.
“Band is like a family,” Haylie said. “It’s great being together and playing music.”
Her favorite moment in the band is at contest every year. She thrives on the competition.
“I love the feeling at the end of the contest knowing you did your best,” Haylie said.
Her musical talents go beyond the trumpet. She learned to play the piano by ear and still enjoys weekly lessons. Practice is something she never tires of, whether on piano or with her trumpet.
“I love to play,” she said. “I can feel the improvement every time I practice.”
She plays piano and trumpet on occasion at her church, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church (Chickenbone). She’s also performed “Taps” for area veterans’ programs.
As a senior, Haylie is still looking to broaden her musical horizons and aims to attempt to again qualify for the Mississippi Lions All-State Band.
“I’d love to make it again,” she said.
Haylie is also focused on trying to master all the other instruments in the band and is considering majoring in music in college.
“I really think I would like to teach music,” she said.