Trumpet Playing Grad Plans to Study Music Education

Usually on South San Francisco Patch, we feature a Whiz Kid of the Week. But this week, we're going to have a whiz kid every day. Each morning from Monday to Friday, we'll be featuring an illustrious member of the graduating high school class of 2011. Watch out world, the graduates are here!

Name: Benjamin Villa III

School:

Activities: Trumpet

Future College: Skyline College

Awards: John Phillip Sousa Award

It took only one sound for Benjamin Villa III to realize his life’s passion. As a third grader, Villa became intoxicated by the booming beats and high energy tunes of a big jazz band playing in a children’s movie.

“It showed this big band jazz band, it just caught my attention and that’s how it all began,” he said.

Villa, who recently received the John Philip Sousa award for his superior musicianship, is an accomplished trumpet player, composer and has played with Skyline College for two years.

Playing the trumpet, Villa said, is a feeling like no other.

“This energy literally ran through my body and so much passion,” Villa said of playing the trumpet. “And just to really hit those high notes, I just really want to knock the socks off the audience.”

While Ke$ha and Gaga may dominate the playlists of his peers, Villa prefers the classic swinging jazz of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.

Villa said he was inspired by his former band director to not only play with pride but to continue being a leader for music education.

“I plan to major in music education,” Villa said. “But I want to continue into professional performance and hopefully have my own jazz band some day.”