3,652 days, 10 years, is how long junior Moritz Meister has been playing his instrument, the tuba. From concert band to a high-spirit jazz number, Moritz has dedicated a significant amount of his life to music, be it playing or listening. 

Coming across the world from Germany to Missouri as an exchange student was thrilling. Immersing himself in a new language and culture was a change for Moritz, and he handled it by focusing on the thing he loves.

“Playing my instrument, music is a big part of my life,” Moritz said. “Music was the best decision I made. I [have] found all my friends over music and at least for the first semester all my after school activities [were involved with music] and I love it,” he said.

During his time at Hickman, Moritz has used his passion for music to get involved and create memories.

“[Music] made it a lot easier for me to meet new people because of course people are more interested in exchange students when they don’t have several each year,” he said.

In his changing world, this art form has been his constant. 

“This is my 10th year,” Moritz said. And it’s not just the instrument he loves. The tuba has created an environment of joy for him, “…playing it, the music, the people, the kind of together thing,” he said.

Joining Hickman’s fine art program, Mortiz cultivated a close circle of friends who he often finds himself with after football games or celebrating a marching festival success. 

“It’s like everything, I enjoy every single second and activity and whatever. I live in the moment,” he said. 

His musically driven friend group has given him the American high school experience many international students wonder about.

 “We eat lunch together and have fun and all the stuff…In
Germany we think like American high school is like how it is in the movie the High School Musical” Moritz said.

He is always supportive and stays invested in his peers as well. 

“At one of our marching band festivals, Moritz came to watch and support us, and I feel like that’s when he really started to become part of the Hickman and fine arts community,” Mia Swope (11) said.

Tom Sweeney, associate director of bands at Hickman, admires Moritz’s swift adaptation. 

“Oh, he’s totally dove into the fine arts program here. He’s got all sorts of friends. He gets involved in everything,” said Sweeney.

One of the things he was quick to get involved in was the musical. During his first couple of months at Hickman, Moritz was looking for a unique opportunity. The all-school musical “Chicago” was the perfect calling for his known talent, along with the excitement of a brand new experience. 

“I saw the paper in FA and then I saw tuba missing. And I was like, let’s go get the experience. So I asked Sweeney do they still need a tuba. He was like, yeah, here you can get it…The experience was so so great…it’s like being in a movie and living in my imagination but it’s real,” he said.

Despite his lack of theatrical experience, Moritz rose to the challenge with ambition, something Sweeney appreciated about him during the stressful process of assembling a show. 

“The dude knows how to read all his key signs. And musicals are hard. You know, they’re in 18 gajillion key signatures. So he was very reliable. But then just his outgoing personality; he’s very gregarious and outgoing and bubbly and…engaging and, you know, it’s just fun,” Sweeney said. 

Mortiz’s outgoing personality can also be found in his musical taste. He might be found rock climbing or cycling, listening to his new favorite song.  

 “[S]ome radio music sometimes and also techno,” Moritz said while explaining his music taste.

Ultimately, his heart lies within one genre.

 “A lot of jazz,” he said while scrolling through his curated Spotify account. “My top artist was Louis Armstrong,” Moritz said, clicking through his endless jazz playlist.

His personal love for listening to music, along with playing it, has allowed him to excel in band at Hickman. 

Sweeney hopes he can show off his talents wrapping up his time here by competing with a solo at an upcoming festival.

 “It’s been a really good experience for everyone. He’s been a great positive addition to the program,” he said in a bittersweet tone.

Going back to Germany, Moritz will still keep music in his life, but this time with the music of Hickman sprinkled in. 

 Above all, Moritz leaves us with top-tier advice that has guided him through his time abroad. When in doubt, “be more open,”.