The Lebanon News | Shawn Street | Photo Credit: Submitted Photo
A sophomore tuba player at Honaker High School will spend this summer performing in one of the nation’s most elite drum corps.
Aiden Dye was recently selected to perform with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. Dye will perform with more than 150 students ranging in age from 15-21 across the nation from May until Aug.
Should the corps accrue enough points during the competitions, they will advance to the Drum Corps International World Championship in Aug.
“For a comparison, this would be equivalent to a 15-year-old high school quarterback signing to play for one of the top college football teams,” stated Honaker Band Director Shawn Matney. “It truly is that grand, and for a 15-year-old high school band student to receive such an honor, is indescribable. It is rare for a student that young to be part of such an organization. It requires talent and discipline that very few students his age possess.”
While being selected to the corps is a major accomplishment, a lot of grueling work will come with it.
“These young men and women will endure training comparable to that of a marathon athlete for three months straight,” Matney explained. “They will be exposed to the elements for 12-14 hours per day, seven days per week, run/march at least six miles per day at an average of 200 steps per minute in the rain or sun, and heat while shouldering a 30lb contra tuba. This is a grueling training regimen but this is why the Madison Scouts constantly make it to the championship round in Aug.”
It also comes with a financial price. Donations from various individuals and businesses have helped Dye raise the needed money to be a part of the corps and the food, lodging, etc. that comes with it. But he is approximately $2,000 shy of his goal at this time.
Donations can be made to Dye and his family directly or they can be made to the school in care of the Honaker High School Marching Band or Band Boosters FOR Aiden Dye.
Like many in Southwest Virginia, Dye was first introduced to music by his family singing in the church choir. He said his great grandmother also played the banjo.
Dye began his musical journey on the saxophone before switching to trombone. His decision to move to tuba came in a very unusual way.
“My mother ran over a tuba,” he said. “It was after a football game and someone had left their tuba laying there. Mom didn’t see it and she ran over it.”
Much of Dye’s early music career came during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Therefore he was self taught in the early days.
“He has disciplined and pushed himself through learning to march at various tempos, learning to read music at the level of a professional, and fine tuning every aspect of playing the tuba,” Matney said. “This all didn’t happen overnight. Aiden is fearless with every challenge he faces, whether it is soccer, robotics, or band and with an unparalleled work ethic, he constantly seeks to improve even in the smallest areas.”
Dye has achieved many accolades in addition to being named to the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. He was selected to the Virginia All-District Band for the last three years and out of 39 tuba players, he scored the highest in District VII this year. He has also been selected to the Virginia Tech Honors Band for the last two years.
In addition to being an accomplished musician, Dye has also displayed exceptional skills as an athlete. He is a member of cross country, indoor track, and soccer at Honaker High School. He is also a member of the high school robotics team and an active member of the Swords Creek Community Baptist Church.
“We couldn’t be more proud of him,” said his mother, Robin Dye. “It is a blessing to see him using his God given talents.”
“I want to express my love for everyone that has helped me,” Dye said. “My family. God for what he has given me. Everyone that has pushed me.”
Dye attended his first drum corps competition as a spectator in 2021 and from that day, it was his personal goal to perform in a drum and bugle corps. He said while the experience will give him memories that will last a lifetime, he hopes to inspire others the way he was inspired in 2021.
“I just really hope to inspire others to go for their dreams,” he said. “Ninety percent of us fail because we never try.”
“Aiden possesses the drive and determination necessary to perform with the Madison Scouts and I am confident he will leave a lasting impression with the entire Madison Scouts corps,” Matney said. “Aiden will be representing Honaker High School, Russell County, and Southwest Virginia and I am confident that he will do so with dignity and honor.