MURRIETA: Vista Murrieta musician chosen for national honor

Corinne Cook will play at high school bowl game

By RANI GUPTA - Staff Writer | Monday, October 6, 2008 7:29 PM PDT ∞

Vista Murrieta High School senior Corinne Cook accepts a U.S. Army All-American Marching Band jacket from Sgt. Jon Siedlik during an assembly Monday. Cook was among musicians selected from throughout the nation to perform in the marching band during the annual high school all-star football game put on by the Army. (Photo by Steve Thornton - Staff Photographer)

MURRIETA ---- Amid the deafening cheers of students at Vista Murrieta High School, senior Corinne Cook was honored Monday as one of the top high school musicians in the country.

Cook, 17, was one of 97 students nationwide named to the All-American Marching Band that will play at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a prestigious annual contest pitting the country's top high school football players against each other.

This marks only the second time an All-American Marching Band has been named to participate in the bowl since it started in 2000.

Officials from the bowl recognized Cook during a rally at the high school, where they presented her with a jacket and the cylindrical hat worn by marching band musicians, known as a shako. She will receive a paid trip to San Antonio to perform during the game, which will be broadcast nationally.

During the ceremony, Sgt. Jon Siedlik talked about the qualities that the athletes and musicians who play in the bowl share with the Army's top soldiers.

"Each must be mentally, emotionally and physically strong," he said.

Cook received several standing ovations, led by the enthusiastic cries of her fellow band members and followed by other cheering students.

She thanked her parents, the band's directors and members and the school for their help.

"All the qualities the sergeant talked about ---- leadership, hard work and commitment ---- I know I've learned all those qualities through the band program and the school," Cook said.

Cook plays the mellophone, a type of French horn, and is a section leader in the school's band, known as the Golden Alliance.

Musical talent runs in her family. Cook's mother plays the piano, her father plays the bass in a rock band, and her four brothers and sisters are involved in music.

Corinne Cook plays the piano in addition to the mellophone, and has been learning to play since she was a kindergartener at Rail Ranch Elementary in Murrieta.

"I always knew it would be a part of my life," she said of music. "I didn't know I would do it professionally, but I've come to that in the past few years."

Cook also plays on the varsity soccer team and felt she had to decide whether to pursue athletics or music in college, according to her father, David.

"She said, 'Sports is a nice place to visit, but music is my home,'" David Cook said.

About 400 students were nominated from around the country for the All-American Marching Band, said Ashley Connell, a spokeswoman for SportsLink, the company that produces the game. The winners were chosen from videotapes they submitted of themselves.

David Cook said he was excited for his daughter that she was one of the few selected for the honor.

"Corinne works so hard and it's nice to see that others recognize her efforts," he said.

Ralph Ewell, co-director of the Golden Alliance and Cook's teacher for Advanced Placement Music Theory, said he is impressed by his student's dedication. In addition to her in-school involvement, Cook has played for the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra and Side-By-Side Symphony, a group of young musicians that performs with the Pasadena Symphony.

Ewell said Cook has "her eye on the ball" in realizing her goal of being a professional musician.

"She really has a passion to play well," Ewell said.

Contact staff writer Rani Gupta at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or rgupta@californian.com.