Walking onto the field, a student steps into formation, feeling the familiar weight of his tuba in his hands. The bright sun casts long shadows across the field as the members of the Eagle Regiment prepare to rehearse for an upcoming band competition. Content with his hard work, Thomas Nguyen continues to expand his musical horizons.
Thomas Nguyen is a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He is a member of the Eagle Regiment, MSD’s award-winning marching band. Nguyen has always loved music.
Nguyen views music as more than a hobby; it is his passion and something that has influenced his life since he was little. From a reluctant 5-year-old piano student to an emerging social media influencer, Nguyen continues to navigate the music world with commitment and a strong desire to expand his talents.
“My parents forced me [to play piano] because they wanted me to learn something, and they didn’t want to pay for an actual piano teacher, so they just had my sister teach me by the book,” Nguyen said. “I hated it because it wasn’t really a passion, but I guess it sparked something.”
Despite his reluctance to play the piano, he acknowledges that this push is what sparked his passion for music. Over the years, his love for music only grew. Soon, he dabbled in more instruments, learning to play the tuba, euphonium, trombone and ukulele.
In addition to music being a personal hobby, Nguyen is involved with MSD’s marching band playing the tuba. He has participated in the band of his previous school, Jupiter High School, and an independent ensemble called Stryke Wynds, showing his dedication to music.
Nguyen views this activity as one that teaches him how to work with others and on projects that are bigger than himself. He even attributes his improvements to the marching band.
“I feel like there’s a lot of pressure [in band], but it’s to contribute to a larger goal, so I find that quite valuable,” Nguyen said.
Marching band has taught Nguyen more than just how to read sheet music.
“With marching band, I see people learning how to save money, learning how to finance [and] taking out a loan, just to do this activity,” Nguyen said. “There’s a lot of valuable things that come with it.”
While his talent was evident on the field and in the classroom, Nguyen has also found a new outlet for sharing his music in the digital world. He began posting his performances on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, hoping to reach a wider audience. Although he posts inconsistently, Nguyen always tries to upload when he can.
“[Social media] just makes it more accessible,” Nguyen said. “The amount of ideas that are being pushed around nowadays are just a few clicks on your phone or a computer.”
On his YouTube channel, Nguyen has posted avariety of videos; some feature him performing original compositions, while others show his take on popular songs. The feedback, while sometimes sparse, is enough to keep him motivated.
Balancing schoolwork, the marching band and his personal hobby is a difficult task. To combat this, Nguyen prioritizes his immediate goals rather than stressing about the future.
“Just get your priorities straight and don’t think about it too hard,” Nguyen said. “Otherwise, if you stress, then it’s just going to make everything worse.”
In the future, Nguyen hopes to bring back young children’s interest in music. He aims to do this by teaching lessons on the side, for those willing to follow the path of music, and embark on their own musical journey.
“I feel like music is kind of dying, in younger kids, because I don’t really see too many kids too interested in that anymore,” Nguyen said. “I think COVID-19 had a big part in that.”
Nguyen’s passion for music continues while he pursues schooling and artistic growth. He is committed to using his skills to rekindle an interest in music in others and make himself known in the world of music.
This story was originally published in the March 2025 Eagle Eye print edition.
