Whiz Kid: St. Michael Saxophonist Sounds Sweet

Today The Patch kicks off its series on WHIZ KIDS. This will be a weekly column to recognize amazing kids right here in St. Michael Albertville. From selling the most Girl Scout cookies, to raising money for a homeless shelter, to a martial arts phenom – if your child or a child you know excels at something – we might just write on them! We absolutely, categorically recognize EVERY child is a Whiz Kid – but the calendar only gives us 52 opportunities for shout outs.

This week we commence our series with a high school musical wonder. Fifteen year old Andrew Bollin of St. Michael Albertville High School, did not start playing a musical instrument until he reached fifth grade and enrolled in “beginner” band. In only five short years, he has gone from “what’s a flat?” to expertly performing solos in five of the six numbers at the recent .

He is first chair alto sax in the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, and he is equally as talented on his second instrument – the baritone sax – which he plays in the Jazz Ensemble.

Andrew has always loved music, and particularly loves playing in a group, as he enjoys the exhilarating feeling of being “part of something bigger than myself”.

“I practice three times a week at home,” Andrew explains, “but it’s not work to me. I love playing and I love entertaining people that enjoy music. I also like the fact so many of my friends play in the band. It just makes it even more fun!”

Consistent with many students that play a musical instrument, Andrew also excels in school. He is a regular on the A Honor Roll at St. Michael Albertville High School. He is also in firing distance of making Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scout Troop 547. This is an achievement less than 1 percent of the US population ever attains. In fact, 95 percent of all of NASA’s male astronauts were Eagle Scouts. To achieve this rank, Andrew has dedicated years of commitment, study at home, weeks and weeks of wilderness camping, not to mention 18 frigid hours overnight  - outdoors - in the snow.

But Andrew remains self-effacing and uncomfortable with the attention. Adam Sroka, Andrew’s High School band teacher describes Andrew in the same fashion as do his peers.

”At first he seems shy. But get that boy on an instrument, and he’s on fire. You have no idea till he gets going,” Sroka said. “And then you just don’t know what hit you.”

Andrew is looking ahead to college, where he hopes to add “professor” or “engineer” to his resume that already includes music prodigy, A student and likely Eagle Scout.

Andrew’s parents – Brian and Cheryl Bollin of St. Michael – were surprised Andrew was selected as our first recipient, but proud of their son’s hard work and accomplishments.