Washoe Country School District
Change Font Size
Ben Sander's Profile
McQueen Teen Finds Musical Niche in Orchestra
Student: Ben Sanders
School: McQueen High School
Music is Ben Sanders’ life. Ben, soon to graduate from McQueen High School, has been playing the viola since the sixth grade. Although he doesn’t plan a career in music, it’s a hobby that will stick with him long into his adult life.
“In middle school, you have to pick whether you want to play an instrument or sing,” he said. “At the time, I wanted to play the violin, but there weren’t any violins to rent so I went with the viola and it just came to me naturally.”
Ben said he looks forward to keeping his appreciation for music as he walks the stage at McQueen to receive his high school diploma in June.
With his passion for the viola developing as a youth, the McQueen Lancer has gone on to play in his school’s junior honor orchestra, the Reno Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and finally McQueen’s chamber orchestra, a more advanced performance group.
“Ben is a really good example of a student who challenges himself academically,” said Leslie Hermann, assistant principal at McQueen. “Things have been a little rough, but he continues to make good choices.”
Hermann said she came to know Ben as a result of his participation with a conference for teachers in northern Nevada and northern California. She praised him for his integrity and willingness to work hard.
“He worked all day with me (at a conference this year) and we waived one of his (Advanced Placement) exam fees for that,” she said with a smile. “He also worked with me during the summer. One day, there was a book that was misplaced and rather than paying the cash for it, he worked it off.”
In addition to being a musician, he’s also an older brother and faithful son to a mother who is supporting her three children on her own.
“She’s watching over us all the time,” he said. “I try to help her out as I can.”
Though Ben intends to continue studying music, he said for practical reasons, he won’t pursue a career as a musician.
“I’m going to major in chemical engineering,” he said. “Chemistry is really interesting to me.”
He’s been accepted to the University of Nevada, Reno, where he’s already received a Pell grant and a few scholarships. It will enable him to stay at home with his family until he can afford to live on his own.
“I’m alright going to school for another six or seven years,” he said with a smile. “I’ll be doing something that’s fun and making $100,000 a year.”
