Kyrese Washington can be described as many things: a junior, an honor-roll student, and even a black belt in taekwondo; but more than anything he is passionate about making music. Kyrese discovered his newfound love in sixth grade at East Millbrook Middle School through the band program. He found he had a knack for the flute and a drive to get better, so he decided to start taking lessons outside of school in the eighth grade. Having come a long way since then, Kyrese is now a part of the Triangle Youth Philharmonic, the Woodwind Quintet, the Community Music School Jazz Ensemble, the Millbrook marching band, and the Raleigh Area Flute Association Silver Fantasy Flute Choir. Not only does he just participate in each of these groups, but he is also the principal flute player in TYP and the quintet leader. He has also grown into a diversified musician, now playing the flute, piccolo, mellophone, alto saxophone, and clarinet. When asked why he commits so much of his time and energy to music, he simply responded, “Music is such a unique way for people to express themselves, and I think that people are given the opportunity to show everybody what they love to do.”

  Beyond high school, Kyrese has no plans to giving up on his musical dreams. After college, Kyrese plans to be a flute professor at a college, a band director, or a performer in a professional symphony. If he could play with any symphony in the world, he would play with the Chicago Symphony or the Vienna Philharmonic. Nonetheless, Kyrese is grateful to Millbrook and all the ways it has shaped him as a person and a musician, saying everything he has contributed to Millbrook and the community can be traced back to band. He is especially grateful to his flute teacher and Mr. Jenner for not only helping him grow musically, but also pushing him to find other groups to perform with to challenge himself. When asked what advice Kyrese would give to an underclassman considering joining band, he enthusiastically responded, “It is an amazing experience and you will learn so much from taking band. I highly recommend everyone join because the people in the program are incredible and anybody that joins will be accepted.” While Kyrese can not wait to see what the future holds for the Millbrook music department, Millbrook most certainly can not wait to see what the future has in store for Kyrese.