It is an exciting time for all high school seniors; even more so for Fountain Hills native Seth Aker.

Aker graduated from Fountain Hills High School last week and is quickly embarking on a musical journey that started in his sixth grade year, when he picked up an instrument.

Aker was recently chosen to be a member of the Bluecoats, a prestigious competitive drum and bugle corp that travels the country and competes against other drum corps.

His musical career began when he chose the tuba for middle school band. Aker recalls choosing that particular instrument mostly because his “older brother played,” as well.

In a family of three boys, all played the tuba; Aker’s mother has played trombone.

He quickly gained speed; playing all throughout middle school and into his freshman year. In that year alone, Aker was in the high school band, the Fountain Hills Community Band and Phoenix Central Region Honor Band.

Aker was selected for the Bluecoats in January. He participated in a “camp-style” audition last fall, using pre-selected music and showing the judges his technical talent as well as marching skill.

Aker did not intend to become one of those chosen; he remembers being “very surprised” upon being selected. He said he was using the audition to gauge his skill level, “to see where I was as a musician compared to what it takes to be in a drum corps.” Aker noted that he did not think he “performed that well,” further adding to his surprise upon being selected.

Two other weekend camps have taken place since his acceptance in January, consisting of 12-hour rehearsal days, preparing the group for its upcoming nation-wide tour that starts in Indianapolis on June 23.

According to the official Bluecoats website, the group is a “marching music education organization.” It was founded in 1972 in Canton, Ohio, and is a member of the Drum Corps International (DCI), which is what facilitates the tour that Aker will be participating in next month.

The Bluecoats travel over 10,000 miles each summer, spending nights on gym floors inside sleeping bags during their tour. Aker said he intends to bring an air mattress for those hard floors.

In addition to playing the tuba, Aker also was a drum major for Fountain Hills High School this past school year, a role he loves. He described the position as, “the leader of the band…the person up front, conducting, leading his peers.”

The “conducting, leading, teaching” component of being a drum major played a large part in Aker’s decision to attend Baylor University this fall, where he will be studying Music Education, perhaps culminating in a career as Director of a Drum Corp, something Aker says “looks like a lot of fun, it’s something I really enjoy.”

The Bluecoats have a banquet on August 14 to wrap up their summer tour and Aker will be flying to Baylor right after the banquet, as he is scheduled for Baylor’s Marching Band practice on August 15.

In addition to school and band requirements, Aker has been working to help offset the cost of his participation in the Bluecoats, which he said runs approximately $4,000.

Bluecoats’ equipment and transportation for the traveling drum corps makes up a large part of this; there is also food, instruction and uniform fees associated with the total cost.

Aker has set up a GoFundMe account, reaching out to his community for assistance. Aker notes he is able to accept donations up until the day of departure on June 22 (even though his GoFundMe lists May 18 as the donation deadline).

Those interested in donating can go to gofundme.com/SethAker.