Student Spotlight: Wesley Mann

By Zack Bernardin, Staff writer

If you have noticed bagpipe music being played around FVHS, especially during culture days or International Week, rest assured that it isn\’t part of your imagination. The Baron Banner caught up with the person behind the pipes, junior Wesley Mann (‘10), and interviewed him about his unique talent.

Baron Banner: What instrument do you play? 
Wesley Mann: I play the Great Highland Bagpipes. 
 
BB: How long have you been playing for? 
WM: Since about a year and a half ago. 
 
BB: What influenced you to play the bagpipes? 
WM: I sort of just decided I wanted to learn an instrument, and that seemed like the most interesting one. 
 
BB: So it was more of a random decision? 
WM: Yeah. 
 
BB: Have you been in any competitions? 
WM: Yeah, I have competed in all the Highland games around California. I attended the Monterey School of Piping and Drumming last summer.

It\’s like a summer camp for bagpipers, and I got a lot of compliments there on my playing. I\’m playing at the Highland games at the Queen Mary if anyone wants to come. It\’s February 14th and 15th, and you can check it out on the Queen Mary website. 
 
BB: Do play with a group? 
WM: I\’m in the Nickolson Pipes and Drums from Westminster. 
 
BB: You don\’t happen to be Scottish, do you? 
WM: Yes! I\’m part of Clan Gunn of Scotland. We play in the games together. 
 
BB: How many instruments do you play? 
WM: Currently, fourteen. I play the Great Highland Bagpipes, Irish Ullian Bagpipes, tenor banjo, mandolin, guitar, Irish flute, tin whistle, and the bassoon, just to list a few. 
 
BB: Impressive. What else do you do? 
WM: I\’m on the track and field team, and my events are shot put and discus. We have about eight meets a year and we win a lot of competitions. We won CIF championships last year, and we plan to win again. By the way – just so you know, you don\’t throw the discus like a Frisbee.

BB: Well, that just about sums it up. Thanks a lot! 
WM: No problem.