A Caesar Rodney High School senior may appear on national television in January as part of a marching band comprised of high school students from across the country.
Matthew Rothenberg, 17, of Camden, recently was selected to play the clarinet in the group, which will perform the half-time show for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome on Jan. 9.
Rothenberg was one of 97 students selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Band from a pool of 1,300 applicants and will receive a one-week, all-expenses-paid trip to San Antonio to participate in the event.
“I’m not nervous right now, but I’m pretty sure that as soon as I get on the plane, I’ll start to feel more freaked out,” Rothenberg said.
All the participants in the band will memorize their sheet music beforehand and then spend a week learning the marching part of the show. In addition to practicing, the students will visit some of the nearby attractions, such as the city’s river walk, said Corey Berger, one of the band’s selection tour representatives.
To participate in the band, Rothenberg was nominated by his high school band teacher. Then, he had to memorize a song provided by the U.S. Army All-American Band and make a videotape of himself playing the song and marching.
DuWane Sandlin, director of Caesar Rodney bands, said he heard about the program through a friend, who had recommended the All-American Band as a positive experience for students.
“Matt is an awesome player and an awesome person,” Sandlin said. “Since he plans to major in music, I thought he had a future in it and would be a good nomination.”
The All-American Band has been performing for three years at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and Sandlin said Rothenberg is the first Caesar Rodney student to march with the group.
“It was a pretty significant audition, and he didn’t really have a lot of time to do it,” Sandlin added.
In the future, Rothenberg said he plans to major in music, and though he hasn’t selected a college, he said his first choice is West Chester University.
In addition to the clarinet, Rothenberg plays the bassoon, piano and saxophone, and participates in Caesar Rodney’s concert choir, as well as playing in the pit band for the school’s musicals.
At a ceremony in the school’s auditorium Nov. 12, Rothenberg thanked a list of teachers who supported his music career, including his second-grade piano teacher.
“I’m very excited,” Rothenberg said about the trip.
