Catholic High School senior Mitchell Moore has really made some noise recently. For a drummer, that’s not unusual.
Since his freshman year, Moore has played drums for the school band. In April, he auditioned for the University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band and earned a spot for the fall.
Because Moore is deaf, his achievement also became local and national news.
Moore, 18, was born deaf in his right ear. By age 9 he had lost hearing in his left ear. Now in both ears he has a cochlear implant, an electronic device that helps to provide a sense of sound.
In spite of the hearing loss, Moore showed an early interest in drumming.
“I used to get pots and pans out at Nana’s house,” he said.
His father also plays the drums, and by age 5, Moore had his first drum kit. Four years later, he started taking lessons.
“I just liked them — they sounded good to me,” he said. “They were fun, I always enjoyed playing.”
Moore could use the vibrations to help him keep time, “to keep my beat,” he said.
This spring Moore decided to try out for the Razorback band. On April 7 he had his first audition, which included playing a solo for the band director. On April 28 he returned for a callback, which included current band members as well as incoming freshmen. The tryout took six hours, and 60 people auditioned for 33 spots in the percussion section.
When the band director announced the list of positions, Moore was chosen for the cymbal line, a part of the drumline.
“They provide mostly accompaniment,” he said. “I didn’t care what I made as long as I got in the band.”
After the news of his success spread through his family and friends, a friend of his grandmother passed on the information to some media contacts. KTHV, channel 11, did a story on Moore for the local news. From there, the story was picked up by a variety of news outlets, including CNN, Fox News and the Huffington Post.
At one point, a Google search of “Mitchell Moore deaf” would bring up four pages of hits, he said.
“I was so excited when I found that out,” he said. “I printed them out — I’m going to keep those suckers.”
He said he knows his friends and classmates are proud of him, but their response keeps him in check.
“It’s an all-boys school. They’re going to joke about it,” he said.
As part of the Razorback band, Moore will play at home and away football games, as well as playing around campus and marching to the stadium on game days.
“That’s going to be fun,” he said.
Catholic High’s band does not march, so Moore will have to learn to march while he plays. But he’s not too worried.
“Mr. Pritchett (band director at Catholic) says every college and university has its own marching style, so I would be relearning how to march,” he said.
“I just hope I don’t fall down,” he added.
In addition to being in the band, Moore plans to major in biomedical engineering. He sees technology as the way to create and improve medical devices like cochlear implants.
“I want to help people with disabilities have the opportunities that I’ve had,” he said.
Click here to see the index of stories in Arkansas Catholic’s Graduation 2012 special section.
