Marching Hilltoppers welcome Freshman, Kyle Turley, to West Liberty this fall...

Marching Hilltoppers welcome Freshman, Kyle Turley, to West Liberty this fall...

Contributing Writer: Anna Griffith

Freshman MarchingHilltopper member, Kyle Turley,was raised in Bethesda, Ohio,and attended Union Local HighSchool in Belmont, Ohio.

Turley plays the clarinet in West Liberty’s Marching Hilltopper band. He has been playing the clarinet since 5th grade and has always been interested in marching bands and music.

Turley was drawn to themusic industry from a youngage. He said “I’ve always hadsome musical influence betweenmy dad and my greatuncle.

When the marching band came down to the elementary school, I’d always get so excited and even at football games I’d always be towards the band.”

Turley is majoring in instrumental music education and picked this because of the musical influence in his life along with the inspiration from family and teachers.

After graduating Turley would like to be a middle or high school band director. He would prefer to stay local and teach somewhere in the Ohio Valley. Turley continues to see himself staying in music for the foreseeable future even with the difficulty of the music major.

He says, “Some of the classes can be difficult, which has led to people either dropping out or switching majors, andI’ve heard of those stories, but I don’t plan on it affecting me. I won’t let it.It’s what I want to do with the rest of my life and music will be a part of me forever.”

On average Turleypractices, about ten hoursa week but is workingwith his schedule to improvethis time.

Turley says thatthe most difficult thingabout his major is thesinging process. He wasnever in a choir in highschool but finds most ofthe rest of the work in hismajor to be relatively easycompared to how difficulthe thought it would be.

Turley also shared some ofhis awards and accomplishmentsin his musical career so far. He hasreceived the Patrick S. Gilmoreaward along with participating inthe high school Solo and Ensemblecontest and receiving excellent andsuperior ratings.

Turley has also participated in the OMEA District IX HonorBand as 2nd chair clarinet and has also been 2nd chair clarinet for theWest Liberty University Tri-State Honor’s Festival. Turley chose to come to attend West Liberty for multiple

Kyle Turley (back) performs at the West Liberty Marching Hilltoppers Oglebay Performance. He performed with his fellow Marching Hilltoppers such as Jamison Rovnak (front). Photo Credits: Breanne Yakesh reasons. Mostly because it’s local but also because he fell in love with the campus on his first visit and appreciated the small class sizes.

When asked, two of Turley’sfriends described him as a hardworker but also as a very caring andvery bubbly person. He was also describedas a gentleman and energetic.

For more information aboutthis article, please contact MorganKafana at mkafana@westliberty.edu.

For more information onWest Liberty Univeristy’s MarchingHilltoppers, please email the Directorof Bands, Dr. Gretchen Pohlman atgretchen.pohlman@westliberty.edu.

Photo Credits: WLU Media Relations