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St. Patrick School and All Saints Academy will welcome a new middle school band instructor this fall. Lauren Duflo comes to us from Excel Charter Academy where she previously taught music and band. As someone who discovered her love for music in middle school, Lauren is excited to now help other students do the same.
“My band teachers were really inspiring to me,” she says.
Lauren first encountered band in 5th grade when she began playing trumpet at her small elementary school in mid-Michigan. By high school, she was hooked and participated in both concert band and marching band, where she would eventually serve as both brass section leader and drum major.
After deciding that she wanted to pursue music professionally, Lauren auditioned for several colleges and eventually settled on Michigan State University. During her time there, she studied trumpet and was part of numerous ensembles including the Spartan Marching Band.
As she takes the baton from our previous instructor, Mr. Matt Palmieri, Lauren says she doesn’t anticipate any significant changes to the band programs at St. Patrick School and All Saints Academy. Instead, she plans to build upon the strong foundation that already exists in the established programs.
“I’ll spend time getting to know the ensembles and their strengths,” Lauren says will be her first order of business. Then, it will quickly become time to start planning and practicing for holiday performances.
While not everyone wants a career in music, Lauren says band is a good opportunity for students to step back, try something new and take a break from academic studies. “It is a different type of challenge,” she says.
We are excited to have Lauren as part of our school communities this fall and hope you’ll join us in welcoming her to St. Patrick School and All Saints Academy.