National Anthems

[Ken Loyd]

My whole body was quivering while Jesse M. was playing all the National Anthems. I needed to wipe my eyes several times. How does he hit THAT note near the end of Star Spangled Banner?

[Pin Man]

I don't know but I agree... He is amazing!!!

[Cory]

He is without a doubt the most talented trumpet player I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.

I especially liked the way that every country represented had their national anthem played.

Cory

[Redhead Jokes]

My whole body was quivering while Jesse M. was playing all the National Anthems. I needed to wipe my eyes several times. How does he hit THAT note near the end of Star Spangled Banner?

Loved it myself of course - I'm a fan. *question* I wasn't there last year. Was he at championships last year?

[yamo18]

I agree he was amazing!! As a trumpet player myself, I wish I could play like that.

[Pin Man]

Loved it myself of course - I'm a fan. *question* I wasn't there last year. Was he at championships last year?
Yes he was in Houston last year and of coarse he played great!!!

[cbudrecki]

yeah, he did houston last year, but i belive his big FIRST debut was in Pheonix, where i had the chance to meet him. I also am a trumpet player and he just blows me away (bad pun, i know) since i was a volunteer @ nats, i was lucky enough to get his signature on my FIRST CREW shirt, he even had me hold his trumpet while he signed :)

[Ken Loyd]

Jesse has opened the Arizona Regional both years. Yet another reason to attend the Arizona Regional next year. Start making those travel plans NOW!

[Ali Ahmed]

I agree he was AMAZING. It's really hard to describe the felling you get when he plays.

[Redhead Jokes]

i was lucky enough to get his signature on my FIRST CREW shirt, he even had me hold his trumpet while he signed :)

*BIG GRIN* Glad to hear he must experience over and over again we all appreciate him.

We were so appreciative of the past two phoenix regionals we've heard him at we gave him a tshirt in his size.

[Brandon Martus]

It was amazing. There was just the right amount of echo in the stadium to make it sound perfect.

[KenWittlief]

Everytime Ive attended a championship, and they sing or play the national athem at the opening ceremonies

and I scan the stands and see 300 teams, and tens of thousands of students, teachers and professional mentors

it really sinks in what FIRST represents, the opportunities we have at our disposal

and Im very thankful that its not me up there on the stage, trying to sing, with a big lump in my throat :^)

[K.Shaw]

for those of you that were in the stadium on thursday you got a chance to witness him praticing! it was also great that day! When i saw him thursday i was really excited to hear him on Friday because he is just so awsome at playing!

[The First Lady]

I haven't heard our national anthem played with such feeling before. It was awsome and I was fighting back the tears.

[ellenchisa]

He played amazingly... having attempted trumpet, I don't even know how that is physically possible. I hope he's back again and again :)

I was standing next to two trumpet players at the time, and a friend turned to one of them and asked "are you that good?!" and he looked shocked and responded with something like "I wish..."

I hope Jesse M ends up seeing the thread, because he deserves to know how everyone enjoyed his preformance.

[Zzyzx]

Although I have to say it did not bring tears to my eyes, it was definately some of the most beutiful trumpet playing I have ever heard. And our team is thinking about travling to the arizona regional next year.

[TD78]

Congrats to Jesse on that awesome performance. I remember when I first tried playing the trumpet many years ago. It was very hard just to begin with, and I ending up playing clarinet instead (which I think is just as hard). But to hear Jesse playing all those anthems with the Dome echoing it perfectly was very emotional. And like what KenWittlief said earlier, the whole perspective really sinks in when you scan the crowd. I always think about how in my short 3 year career in FIRST the things I have seen and the people I've met. Living in the small state of RI there just aren't opportunities like this to meet engineers and mentors like those in FIRST. It is times like this when I have a small break from all the action to reflect that remind me why I participate in FIRST. So again, thanks Jesse for the wonderful memory!

[danield710]

As a trumpet player myself, I truly was amazed at the way he played.

I know how hard it is to hit high notes, but what the notes that he hit were amazing, especially after playing more than one anthem. it takes a lot of practice and talent to pull of a performance like that

[David66]

/Shameless plug

And he graduated from MY high school! He was recently inducted into our (Willow Run) high School's Hall of fame. For all you FIRSTers that's the Team 66 home school :)

/shameless plug

[Ken Loyd]

I hope Jesse M ends up seeing the thread, because he deserves to know how everyone enjoyed his preformance.

Dear E,

Either I or Don Knight (the voice of the Arizona and Denver Regionals) will be sure to see that Jesse gets copies of all these postings.

[Ken Loyd]

And our team is thinking about travling to the arizona regional next year.

Zzyzx,

Let me know if there is anything I or Team 64 can do to help you and your team decide to travel to the Arizona Regional next year. In two short years the Arizona Regional has become one of the top regionals. Check out some of the postings about this years Arizona Regional here on CD.

[MOEmaniac]

That was the best that I have ever heard the National Anthems played on the trumpet :ahh:

[RiceRobotica]

That trumpet playing was godly. I, too, am a trumpet player. The first trumpets in my school's band couldn't have done anywhere near as good. It was such a velvety sound and so high that I was honestly torn between it being a saxophonist or a trumpeter because I couldn't see him. That was absolutely amazing.