By Matt Thekkethala ’15, Feature Staff Writer 

There he was. As a short seventh grader, he stood behind the lectern. His powerful and articulated voice astounded the audience. “My name is Coleman Hughes, and I’m the Middle School President.”

After he spoke, I, an awkward 6^th grader at the time, was sure that Coleman Hughes would go on to do amazing things. I was right.

Looking back on that day, I realize not only how much Coleman Hughes has done, but also how much he has revolutionized Newark Academy’s Music Program. He has won numerous awards, performed alongside renowned professionals, and even toured Japan. As I sat down with the young star, I started off by asking him a difficult question. His response: “My biggest accomplishment? Probably the YoungArts Competition. There were only two spots for wind instruments, and in more ways than one, [getting a spot] was my biggest accomplishment.”

How did he do it? Was it luck? Was it skill? How did that seventh grade boy become one of America’s finest trombonists? What’s his secret? “There are no secrets,” he said. He stated that “practice” is the reason behind his success, but Coleman doesn’t see practice as grueling hours with the trombone every day. “You should do something that you’re genuinely passionate about so practicing it does not feel like work.” It all came down to one universal message: do what you love, and love what you do. Don’t practice something and devote time to it if you don’t love it. His success is derived from a special kind of practice, a kind of practice that isn’t work.

His final comment shocked me. “I haven’t perfected it. No one ever perfects it. It takes a lifetime.” Was that modesty? No. If someone perfected the trombone – perfected jazz music – what would be the point in pursuing it? Music can never be perfected. That’s why we keep playing it. It is imperfect and evolves with us.

Last spring, if you happened to walk down to the Arts Wing you wouldn’t miss the eyes of Coleman Hughes, bearing down on you like those of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. Greta Skagerlind ‘14 created the  jumbo-sized portrait of the trombonist. It greeted all visitors to the Arts Wing and it summed up what I knew to be true since the day I first heard him speak. Coleman Hughes had gone on to do amazing things.