Gibbs junior joins Florida Drum & Bugle Corps

From ther Knoxville News Sentinel
June 10, 2009
by Chandra Harris-McCray

Garrett Fuerst marches to the beat of his own drum.

The 16-year-old rising junior at Gibbs High School is part of the Jacksonville, Florida-based Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps. The elite touring group is comprised of 125 top music students aged 15-21 from across the southeast and Japan. This summer Teal Sound will travel more than 9,500 miles and compete in more than 22 states.

After attending an open audition in Atlanta, Garrett was selected to be part of Teal Sound earlier this year. More than 270 students auditioned for the 2009 season, said Randy Blackburn, director of Teal Sound.

"It is quite an honor to be selected to perform with an organization like ours," he said. "The students that make and become a part of Teal Sound are the best of the best from their respective high school and college programs." Along with Garrett, about 45 students who participate in Teal Sound live outside the state of Florida.

Labeled as Florida's premier Drum Corps International (DCI) touring drum and bugle corps, Teal Sound is in its eleventh year of competitive activity. As an eight-time finalist in the open class division of DCI, Teal Sound is currently under review to move to the next competitive level world class within DCI in 2010.

Blackburn said the mission of Teal Sound is to train youth through the highest quality of artistic movement, music education and cooperative team building to enable them to reach their full potential.

The accolades, mission, sounds and precision of Teal Sound is what caught Garrett's eye after seeing them perform last summer in Sevierville. After being captivated by that performance, Garrett's mother, Christina Fuerst, took Garrett and two of his friends to see Teal Sound in the championship competition in Indiana. On the drive back to their home in East Knoxville, Garrett, who has been playing drums since the fourth grade, told his mom that when audition time came around for Teal Sound he wanted to go and try out.

Although he didn't earn a spot on the drumline, Garrett continues to practice tirelessly with hopes of auditioning again and being chosen for the drumline next year. This summer he is "just happy to have a spot in the Teal Sound family" as part of the front ensemble. He mainly plays the vibraphone.

As one of the youngest in the group, Garrett said that the "experience is so amazing to be around so many experienced musicians who all want to be and do their best. It is really motivating and challenging at the same time."

With monthly practices in Florida and intensive spring training before the summer tour begins, Garrett said he is "beyond dedicated." And so is his family. His parents, Christina and David Fuerst are often the ones making the journey to Florida for Garrett to be part of Teal Sound. His youngest brother, Christopher Fuerst, 14, is already entertaining the idea of trying out for Teal Sound next year.

Laughing, Christina said, "We are a Teal Sound family this summer."

Garrett, who is part of the band and orchestra at Gibbs High School, said, "A lot of my friends and others told me that I couldn't do it and that I would never be part of Teal Sound but I did it. I just want other kids to know that if they work hard and put their minds to it then they too can follow their dreams and be and do whatever they want."

Chandra Harris-McCray is a freelance contributor for the News Sentinel.