Matt Ruggles ‘18 is a Senior at Jesuit High School who plays the clarinet in the Jesuit Symphonic Band and has been playing the clarinet since the fourth grade.

He started playing at Jesuit in his Freshman year.

“Band teacher Mr. Cargile called my house and said ‘oh I see you have a lot of band experience,”  Matt said.

His favorite piece is a Star Trek medley for band.

“If I wasn’t playing the clarinet, I’d either play the Alto Saxophone or the snare drum,”  Matt said. “Alto Saxophone because it’s very similar to clarinet and it’s cool… snare drum because just everyone likes snare drum.”

The Symphonic Band plays in the Harris Center for concerts, at the football field for marching band, in the gym for basketball, and at California State University Sacramento for competition.

“I have messed up on stage,” Matt said. “Right before we walked in I dropped my clarinet in the band room and a big key fell off and it’s still broken, I haven’t fixed it yet.”

Although Matt plays at Jesuit, he really admires Rio Americano High School’s band.

“Their band is amazing I mean the stuff they do compared to us it’s amazing… their band program is huge,”  Matt said. “If you ever have the chance to hear them play I mean, it’s really something.”

No matter what band one chooses to be in, Matt has one thing to say.

“Uhh, do band it’s fun,”  Matt said.