From performing at venues all across the region, either solo or as a member of the trio Three Creeks Down (along with his brother Hayden on drums and Tristan Barnes on bass and keyboards), to being the youngest member of the cast of Virginia’s Li’l Ole Opry, Mathews High School junior Hunter Owens has quickly made a name for himself in the local music scene.
But the talented 16-year-old musician and songwriter recently got a chance to expand his musical wings, as it were, playing with the top high school musicians throughout the state as first chair contra-alto clarinet in the All-Virginia Symphonic Band in Richmond on April 16-18.
“It was an unforgettable experience,” he said. “I think that is something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.”
Owens was first assigned the contra-alto clarinet in the summer before his freshman year at MHS, filling the spot left by Bradyn Barr, another talented Mathews High School musician who is continuing his musical and education career at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Barr had been the tuba player for the MHS Marching Band, and band director Mark Givens tagged Owens with the role of playing the new low wind instrument for the band.
“It’s really unconventional,” Owens said of the contra-alto clarinet, adding that he’s probably the only one in the state that marches with it.
He quickly took to the new instrument, which is no surprise, as in his brief playing career, he has already mastered four different types of clarinets, guitar, bass guitar, violin and plays a little piano “when I need to,” he modestly added. He’s also been known to pick up any unfamiliar, stray instrument and give it a try.
Although he had achieved district and area band several times since seventh grade, All-Virginia Band was a whole new level for Owens. On Feb. 28, he traveled to James Madison University to audition and he was selected—only the fifth MHS band member in the school’s history to earn that honor.
In Richmond, he was quickly impressed with the caliber of the musicians he encountered. “At that level, you get a magnitude of people at such a high level” that the focus isn’t on the rudimentary techniques. In the sight-reading on the first day, he said, “we could have played a concert right then.”
But they didn’t. The group had several days’ practice under the tutelage of Dr. Scott Tobias of West Virginia University.
“There was so much focus in attention to detail [that] I haven’t experienced with any other group,” Owens said. Tobias, he said, recognized the talent before him and trusted the musicians to interpret the music.
“It’s an awesome opportunity for him,” Director Givens said, with rehearsals run like a professional ensemble. He said that he hoped that Owens making it to this level would inspire other MHS band members to reach for All-Virginia band.
In addition to making a bunch of new friendships with students from across the state, Owens got a chance during breaks to meet with some of the college recruiters in attendance. He said he wants to pursue audio engineering in college, which is a valuable skill on its own or something he can use as a performing artist and songwriter.
Playing band instruments, Owens said, is something that he will be able to do well beyond his high school and college years, pointing to groups such as the Courthouse Community Orchestra. “Hopefully, I’ll play band instruments all of my life,” he said.
Of course, the junior would also like a return to the All-Virginia band.
“Maybe I can do it again next year,” he said. “Let’s see.”