VYPE: First, what year are you?

Sydney Porter: I am a senior.

VYPE: What year did you join band?

SP: I just transferred to Duncan band this year, but I joined band in fifth grade.

VYPE: Where are you from originally?

SP: I transferred from Comanche.

VYPE: What’s different about being at a bigger school?

SP: Being at a bigger school like Duncan can be pretty intimidating at first. There are so many amazing opportunities at Duncan that many smaller schools don’t have. Things such as a jazz band aren’t very common at smaller schools. I am very grateful to be given the opportunities that I would have never had if I hadn’t transferred.

VYPE: Think back to fifth grade. Why did you pick trombone?

SP: When I first started band, we all had to do a playing test with each instrument. Our director would give us a recommendation on which instrument they thought we would do best with, but we had the final say in what we wanted to play. I originally did not want to play trombone because my older sister also played trombone, but I loved the way it sounded. I knew it was the right choice for me.

VYPE: What did fifth-grade Sydney want to be when she grew up?

SP: When I was in fifth grade I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up.

VYPE: What does senior-year Sydney want to be?

SP: I want to be an anesthesiologist in the future.

VYPE: How much influence has your older sister had in your life?

SP: My sister, Savannah, has always been my biggest supporter. She has helped me become the person I am today and I am so thankful for her. She is my role model and I strive to be like her. She has always encouraged me to follow my dreams and has given me plenty of advice and guidance to make my dreams a reality. I would not be where I am today without her.

VYPE: What’s your theme song?

SP: My theme song would probably be Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles. It is my theme song because it represents hope and how hard times in life don’t last forever.

VYPE: What’s one thing everybody should know about you but most don’t?

SP: I love to bake. My favorite thing to make is homemade cinnamon rolls.

VYPE: Who’s somebody at Duncan High School that deserves more credit?

SP: Since this is my first year at Duncan, I do not know a ton of people. I would say that Kenedy Noble deserves more credit. She is a talented musician who has had many great accomplishments in band. She is also an amazing leader in band. She is kind and has always been super nice and helpful. Since the moment I started at Duncan, she has been welcoming and has helped me whenever I needed it. She is an amazing person and has made my transfer a lot easier this year. 

VYPE: What advice would you give to a fourth-grader considering band next year?SP: I would tell them that you don’t have to choose between band and other activities. Most people believe you can’t do band and sports, that you have to choose one over the other. It may be a lot of work to do both, but band is definitely worth it.