Mr. Trey Sims attended high school in Clio, Michigan and learned under inspirational band directors such as Mrs. Margaret VanHoose, Mrs. Kathryn Sare-McDiarmid, and Mr. Greg Johnson. He was the principal flutist of the Wind Ensemble for four years and drum major of the Mustang Marching Band for two years. In addition to his school program’s large and small ensembles, he was an active student at the Flint Institute of Music where he performed with the Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra, Hentgen Honors Woodwind Quintet, and Shand Honors Flute Trio. He was a member of the MSBOA All-State Ensembles and Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Band for two consecutive years. During this time, he studied flute with Kathryn Sare-McDiarmid, Dr. Jessica Cech, and Caen Thomason-Redus.
Though passionate about music, Mr. Sims held a high importance for academics and extra-curricular activities. He was an Executive Board member in Student Congress, National Honor Society, Class Council, Theatre Department, Sound & Lighting, LifeSmarts Business Club, and was active in his church’s youth group and music ministry. In 2014, he graduated as Valedictorian of his class.
Now a senior at Western Michigan University, Mr. Sims is studying Music Education as a member of the Flute Studio under Dr. Martha Councell-Vargas. He has performed in every major ensemble in various capacities. He was selected as a Drum Major of the Bronco Marching Band for the 2016 and 2017 seasons and was a winner of the 58th Annual WMU Concerto Competition. At the end of his junior year, Mr. Sims was recognized with the William & Fiona Denny Scholarship, a distinguished award given to one upcoming senior at the School of Music’s annual Honor’s Convocation. It was at this time that he was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda (ΠΚΛ), an American honor society for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors of music.
Similar to his high school experience, Mr. Sims does not limit his college endeavors to the boundaries of the College Fine Arts. Mr. Sims was a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Fraternity for College Band Members and Vocaholics A Capella Ensemble. Additionally, he completed a summer as an Orientation Student Leader and two years as a Resident Assistant in Ernest Burnham Residence Hall, two positions that are highly sought-after on campus.
