East Aurora Advertiser

Low Notes and Lofty Goals: High School Tuba Virtuoso Mason Wiedeman



Discovering one’s life passion must be exhilarating at any age, but in fourth grade, wow, most of us can hardly imagine it. Ask East Aurora High School senior Mason Wiedeman, though, and he’ll tell you that that’s when he discovered music, particularly the euphonium and his principal instrument, the tuba. Eight years later, Wiedeman is preparing for college (he’s still waiting to hear from a couple, so we won’t jinx it by mentioning them, but there are scholarships in his future), where he’ll study music education and continue an already impressive performance career, joining “as many music ensembles as I can. I love to play.” 

Photographer Marty Wangelin and I caught up with Mason and his music teacher, Mrs. Paula O’Connor, last week in the music room at East Aurora High School. We were there at the invitation of Mrs. O’Connor, who thought that a chat with one of her star students would be appropriate for Music in the Schools Month. Wiedeman and fellow musician, Bram Tarachow, were playing when we showed up in the place where Weideman says he spends, “much of the day.” It’s his favorite place. He’s worked his academic schedule so most of his required courses are out of the way and he’s free to study music. He traced the course of his music education for us.

“I started playing euphonium (a smaller version of the tuba) in fourth grade,” Wiedeman said, “then I switched to tuba a year later. I loved it from the beginning. For whatever reason, I’ve always been attracted to the low brass and the lower elements of any music. It resonates with me no matter what style of music it is. I’ve been lucky to have great teachers throughout my career; Mr. Davis in elementary school, Mr. Hughes in fifth and sixth grade and now Mrs. O’Connor for four years. They all challenged us with fun music and made it interesting to play. They each have their own teaching styles and skill sets, which is great because you learn different things from each of them.”

While many youngsters start musical instruments and leave them by the wayside as athletics and teenage activities get in the way, Wiedeman has worked to get better and better. “I always wanted to be the best at whatever music I was playing. Whether it’s jazz or classical, I like to be able to do whatever the music requires, to be as well-rounded as possible. I’m not locked into any one kind of music; I’m trying everything. That will help make me a better music teacher down the line.” 

East Aurora High School senior Mason Wiedeman will be a featured soloist when the Southtowns Youth Orchestra plays Alexander Goedicke’s “Concert Etude, Opus 49” at the Orchard Park Middle School on March 26.
Photo by Marty Wangelin

His efforts should prepare him for college, which, O’Connor says, will be very demanding. “He’ll take secondary instruments and play everything—brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion. He’ll analyze different types of music, study voice, composing, conducting, all levels of music history and music theory.” Wiedeman is appreciative of the elementary music theory elective he’s taking this year with high school music teacher, Paul Blackwell, which serves as a precursor to college work. 

Wiedeman’s prowess has not gone unnoticed. He was an All-County musician early on and is currently in the Erie County Music Educators’ Association Orchestra. He was honored as a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) tuba player, a designation that required a rigorous application process involving sight reading, scales and performance. He traveled to Rochester this past December to record with NYSSMA musicians from around the state at the storied Eastman Theatre. Closer to home, Wiedeman is principal tuba player for the All-State Sectional Orchestra playing in Fredonia. On March 26, he’ll be a featured soloist when the Southtowns Youth Orchestra plays Alexander Goedicke’s “Concert Etude, Opus 49” at the Orchard Park Middle School. 

“I’m lucky to have that opportunity,” Wiedeman said. “There aren’t a lot of pieces written with tuba solos in mind.”

Wiedeman also backed up Mrs. O’Connor as student director of the recent school musical “Curtains.” He played for faculty and staff on the opening day of school and performed the national anthem at the first home boys basketball game.

With such a hectic music schedule, you might think Wiedeman doesn’t have time for extracurricular pursuits at the high school. Think again. Not surprisingly, the importance of aerobic stamina in brass instruments led Wiedeman to run cross-country. Last fall, he finished eighth in the East Aurora Invitational out of a field of 150 runners from high schools across Western New York, and eighth place in the Section VI state qualifying meet. He finished 10th in the Section VI championship meet, running against 120 of the fastest boys from Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. 

Wiedeman is also an officer of the Unified Sports Club and a partner on the Unified basketball team. The day after our talk in the music room, I ran into him assembling care packages for homeless folks at the City Mission as a member of the National Honor Society. He’s on the class of 2023 executive board, in the Key Club and the Donate Life Club, which organizes blood donation drives. This spring, he’ll run the 800-yard and one-mile races for the Blue Devil track and field team.

Wiedeman swears he doesn’t get nervous before a performance, something many performers must envy. 

“I usually feel like I am prepared enough. I remind myself that I’m here because I practiced a lot and I shouldn’t be nervous. It’s just mental. I’m not cocky, but I’m confident. Sure, the first note is the hardest to get out, the one you’re most likely to crack. And you have to get used to the room. But you get past it. Then you just get into a groove and play.”

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