Teacher and student both honored during state conference
By Kyle LoJacono
Staff Writer
ZEPHYRHILLS — This is not the first time one of Scott Leahy’s students has made All-State Band, but it is still a special accomplishment.
“I was very pleased to hear that Zac (Winters) was chosen because he’s worked very hard,” said Leahy, Stewart Middle band director. “It takes a lot of practice and skill, and Zac has both.”
Winters, 13, is the second student to make the team since Leahy came to the school four years ago. Last year, Luke Messina made All-State as a tuba player.
“I was ecstatic,” Winters said of making All-State. “My band director called me out of class and my mom was there when he told me. My mom was crying next to me. I was pretty shocked.”
His mom, Pam, is the president of the band’s booster club.Winters has been a percussionist at the school since sixth-grade.
The eighth-grader is not the first in his family to be in a Zephyrhills band team. His father, Scott, was also a percussionist at Stewart Middle, and his grandfather and great-grandmother played in school bands in Zephyrhills as well.
Winters tried out for All-State last October and was told he made the band a month later. He and a student from Seven Spring Middle in New Port Richey were the only two middle school students from Pasco County named to All-State.
“I have no idea how Winters got so good because he is just incredible,” said Jackson Johnson, Stewart Middle principal. “He obvious has a lot of talent because you can’t get that good with just desire. To make the team is a great honor and we are all proud of him here.”
The All-State band played at the Florida Music Educators Association Clinic Conference at the Tampa Convention Center in early January. The band played Jan. 9, two days after Leahy received the Tom Bishop Award for District Five, which is given to the best band director in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.
“I get goose bumps when I see the kids play,” Leahy said of watching the All-State band. “I like to attend rehearsals so I know what they’re going to play and how it should sound…Then I get to see it all come together.”
Winters said of playing at the conference, “It was truly special. I’ll remember it for a long time, especially because my band director got his award at the conference this year too.”
Winters said he started playing while in fifth-grade. “I can play anything from drums to the tambourine. My favorite instrument is the Xylophone.”
He explained the first instrument he learned to play was the piano, which makes it easier to play the Xylophone because it looks like a piano and is similar to play.
While things do not always go perfectly, Winters said playing in front of people is a great experience.
“It’s fun because I think of all the times practicing that I’ve messed up, but it all comes together when we play,” Winters said. “Our band at the school is great and I’m very surprised that I’m the only one who made All-State. We could have had a bunch of us make it because the whole band is good.”
This is Winters’ last year of middle school, and it might be his last in band as well.
“I don’t even know what high school I’m going to next year, so I don’t know if I’ll tryout for band,” Winters said. “I’m weighing my options and want to see how much time I have to do things.”
At least one person thinks Winters should find time for his musical talents.
“I hope he keeps playing because he is very talented,” Leahy said. “He has worked so hard to make All-State and (Winters) would be great at the next level.”
