Chase Paquin Gets A Scholarship From UCM
By Wyatt Hardy
Chase Paquin has signed with the University of Central Missouri to further his music career and has been awarded a Presidential All-State Scholarship from it. Only four scholarships of that type are offered by the university, and Paquin received it for his trombone skills.
He will be majoring in musical performance. During his time at Sullivan High School, he showcased his spectacular musical talents in both the band and the choir.
Paquin won a silver medal in his trombone solo at the 2023 Missouri State Music Festival. In the same year, he was selected for the Four Rivers Conference Band, earning the 2nd chair position as a trombonist. He is also a three-year all-state musician, a four-year all-district member, a five-year all-conference participant and an alternate for the all-national band.
When asked about his motivation for joining band, Paquin replied, “I think this is what a lot of kids do. They do it to be with their friends as well. It’s a new thing. Everyone tries it. They try it with their friends, and then it just so happens all my friends stayed in band.” He will be missed in the band program for his funny antics and being the light in many people’s days.
He made the most of his four years by forming strong bonds and striving to be the best trombone player he could be. “High school is like a learning lesson. It shows you what you can do, what you can’t do, what you can handle and what you cannot. . . . High school is a car and everything else is a road you drive.”
His plan after UCM is to pursue a doctorate in music because “you only live once.” He will be trained by Roger Oyster, whom Paquin claims is “the best trombone professor in the state” and is “a beast at what he does.”
Paquin has already started working hard at band rehearsals, maintaining a frantic schedule. “It’s about like 3 hours on hour off to lunch, 3 hours on hour off to dinner, 3 hours on, it’s nine-to-nine,” he notes.
Despite the stress of transitioning to the collegiate level, Paquin has not lost the sense of humor that he cherished and shared with his friends at Sullivan High School. When asked who he would like to thank the most, Paquin says, “I’d like to thank my pet rock for supporting me all the way here. Her name is Denise.”