FEATURE
Rennissance Man
Clarinet player with many other talents Written by Alex Lavender
12
RED&BLACK / Spring 2022
W
riter. Filmmaker. Musician. “Reeds have a very unique taste,” Rembert exThere’s more to this multifac- plains. “It tastes the way an old wood house smells.” eted student than his iconic, When not playing instruments. Harlen writes. long hair that he’s been grow“My stories usually include a character that is ing out since middle school. simply a fictionalized version of myself.” Rembert Lots of students at school call Harlen Rembert (’23) answers. “By taking this fictional clone of myself “Jesus” or “Skinny Jesus”. and throwing him into some fantastical scenario, I “I don’t mind it at all,” Rembert said. “I find it huam able to express myself in a more concise fashion morous and oddly fitting.” than I can in reality.” He began playing the clarinet “Writing is not only an outlet “I didn’t even realize I was six years ago, when he was in fifth by which I express myself, but it is grade. In ninth grade, he joined our any different from anyone simply instinctual for me.” Remschool’s marching band. His favorbert said. “Even if I could not type ite part of marching band is being else until my third grade class or write them out, I would still himself and finding people with have the ideas inside me. They are read a book called ‘The Name similar interests. inseparably a part of me.” Rembert auditioned for drum Rembert enjoys writing both of this Book is Secret.’” major last year. fiction and nonfiction. “I feel that it gave me valuable “I enjoy the boundless freedom -Harlen Rembert experience and skills even though I of fiction the most by far, although didn’t get the position,” Rembert said. I do entertain the idea of making documentaries.” “My favorite part of concert band is expanding He also likes creating short films. As a little kid, the amount of music I’ve played.” Rembert says. “My he would make videos by waving toy dinosaurs in favorite is marching band.” front of a camera. Rembert has recently begun to The clarinet was his first instrument choice because pursue more serious ameteur filmmaking, encoura band teacher said that he would be best at it. It aged by his best friend Kyle Nowell, who started wasn’t easy. making YouTube videos during quarantine back in “I’d say the hardest part of learning an instrument is 2020. Rembert and Nowell are currently looking figuring out all of the fingerings for the notes.” at combining their efforts to make their own small Reeds are important for instruments like the saxofilm. phone, oboe, bassoon, and the clarinet. These instruOnce he graduates, Rembert plans to go to colments need reeds to make a sound. lege to study filmmaking and writing in general.
