Thomas Pascale, Youth Soloist Scholarship Winner

 Thomas Pascale is a Mason County High School senior. Thomas moved to Pentwater Michigan in December of 2000. Thomas entered school in Pentwater at the fifth grade level were band was required. The music teacher at Pentwater looked at Thomas and said "you look like a tuba player" and that's were it all started.

In the end of Thomas's 7th grade year he started to play trombone and baritone. Thomas has done solo and ensemble since the 7th grade with the baritone and tuba all the way to his senior year and has received I's every year. In Thomas's junior year he received a 99 at state with a tuba solo and he played in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Band at Western Michigan University. That same year he was also honorable mention for the state honors band for his Jazz trombone playing.

In the summer of 2005 Thomas was 1st chair tuba in the Northern Winds Blue Lake band that toured Europe for one month. Also this past winter the United States Army Field Jazz Band the Jazz Ambassadors invited Thomas to play trombone in one of the concerts.

Thomas plays in his High School Jazz and Concert band, and is a 5th year member of the Scottville Clown Band. He also plays with the Pentwater Civic Band, West Shore Community College jazz and concert band, the Manistee Civic Band, Ludington Civic Band and the Muskegon Youth Symphony.

With the guidance and instructions of Thomas' High School band teacher, Mr.Tom Thomas, Thomas started playing bass trombone with the West Michigan Concert WINDS three years ago and last year was asked to play in the tuba section. This experience with the WINDS has given him many new friends and the chance to play under the direction of Mrs. Gail A. Brechting. With the help and guidance of Mrs. Brechting and Mr. Thomas, Thomas was recently accepted to the School of Music at Western Michigan University and will start this fall. Thomas is studying with the Assistant Professor of Music and Tuba Professor Deanna Swoboda at Western Michigan University.