By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Whatever career path Kylie Youse decides to take, it’s a good bet it will in some way be tuned to music.

“I’ve always been passionate for music,” said Kylie, a member of Sussex Central High School’s class of 2023. “It’s been with me since I’ve grown up, such as just listening on the radio and things like that.”

Kylie, who with her trumpet combined with SCHS band director Ben Ables to perform Taps and Echo at the Sussex County Memorial Day ceremony May 28, is headed to the University of Delaware as a music education major.

The 18-year-old Millsboro resident leaves Sussex Central as an accomplished and honored musician, locally and regionally.

The honors in her senior year include:

• First chair, Sussex County Band.
• Third chair, All-State Band.
• Second chair, All-State Orchestra.
• Fourth chair, All-Eastern Band.

“And the only band member from Delaware to represent the state in the whole entire Northeast Region,” said Mr. Ables.

The All Eastern Concert was held at the Kodak Theater in Rochester, New York on April 16.

“And not only did we get to go to the convention center and see different exhibits, but I also got the opportunity to meet a bunch of talented peers from all throughout this area of the country, which was super cool,” said Kylie.

In fact, the last student before Kylie to make the All-Eastern Band was Sussex Central graduate Zachary Ables, son of Ben and Kristen Ables. That was about five years ago.

“There is usually a small handful who make it for All-Eastern Choir because they take more students. For band, it is not as often and it’s a highly respected type of position,” Mr. Ables said.

“Last year, I think she was seventh chair in All-State. So, she worked her way up to second chair from her junior year to her senior year,” Mr. Ables said.

“She is definitely one of the top few students that come through, very musically talented. She knew her deficiencies when she came in as a freshman and she really stepped up her game, and she really took the lead in pretty much everything she tried to do. She worked her way up.”

“I went to Southern Delaware School of the Arts from first through eighth grade, so music has always been a very important part of my life,” Kylie said.

“She always has had that passion in everything she does. I knew her from middle school when she was at SDSA, the School of the Arts,” said Mr. Ables. “She was very involved in all the musical productions there, with the jazz band and different things. And she likes to compose music. It is an innate passion.”

Kylie is not a one-instrument musician.

“I also play baritone a little bit in a local community band,” Kylie said. “I have taken up trying to learn a couple others, and like non-concert-related instruments. I play electric bass and ukulele and a little bit of piano and a little bit of guitar, electric.”

Kylie had a singing role in the high school musical, which unofficially marked her acting debut.

“She got to sing and dance a little bit. Last year for our high school musical, she played guitar. She dabbles with a little bit of everything,” Mr. Ables said.

Last fall’s Senior Night football game during the marching band season is among her special memories.

“It was an amazing moment. I got the opportunity to give a little speech to my bandmates. And it really opened my eyes to how much some of them look up to me as not only a fellow musician but as a leader in the band,” Kylie said.

Mr. Ables believes Kylie is making an excellent college choice in continuing her music career, adding that the University of Delaware’s Trumpet Studio came to Sussex Central and played a concert.

“The Trumpet Studio at UD is nationally known. They go to international trumpet competitions,” said Mr. Ables. “I think the University of Delaware will be a good steppingstone for her.”

“It was an enlightening experience. I wasn’t prepared, I guess, for how breathtaking it would be to hear graduate-level trumpet players, both solo and an ensemble performance,” Kylie recalled. “I sat next to one of my friends who also plays trumpet and my jaw just dropped. I was like, ‘We need to sound like that.’”

This summer, her music will continue in the Milford Community Band. She also is scheduled to participate in the American Music Abroad Program in a tour of numerous European countries in June and July. Destinations include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

After that, it’s off to the University of Delaware to major in music education.

“I have considered dabbling in performance in the future,” said Kylie. “But I definitely do find teaching to be an important thing, you know, to continue music on into the next generation.”

Staff writer Glenn Rolfe can be reached at grolfe@iniusa.org. Follow @glennrolfeBTBN on Twitter