This article won first place in the 2022 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
“My family has been a Northview family for a long time,” Senior Elijah Cosby said.
Cosby’s legacy at Northview begins with his grandfather Max Colley, for which “The Max” Performing Arts Center (PAC) is named. His parents and many of his aunts and uncle found a love for music at Northview.
“My grandfather taught at Northview as the band director for 40 years,” Cosby said. “The current band director, Greg Wells, is actually my uncle also. He attended Northview with my aunt and eventually married her.”
For Cosby, the art of performing has always seemed natural. When the choice between band and choir was offered for students entering the 5th grade, Cosby was confident in his class selection.
“My family got me my first drum kit when I was in 4th grade. I’m not really sure what drew me to the kit, but I just knew it was what I wanted to do,” Cosby said.
Cosby is a versatile musician, with many talents that are not limited to an instrument or style of music.
Cosby participates in the marching band in the fall, and throughout the year plays for the jazz band which is made up of a rhythm section and a horn section and the wind ensemble including instruments from the woodwind family. His favorite class, jazz band, often appears in competitions and various festivals in the area.
“Whether it’s going to Old Navy and wearing ridiculous things [with the band for Christmas concerts], to the final concert at [Central Michigan University], or the beach down in Savannah [for a competition],” Cosby said, “The jazz band has been the most fun part of high school for me.”
It’s the complexity and vibe that draws Cosby to jazz. A big part of jazz is improvisation, creating a performance that showcases the musicians feelings and ideas.
“The music we play can be very harmonically challenging as well as technically difficult,” Cosby said. “Specifically for drums, there are a lot more grooves and styles to learn in the jazz world than in the pop world.”
Playing is about more than just the performance for Cosby. To him, it is about evoking emotion from melodic tunes.
“Music is about expression. I’ve always thought that once you reach the level where your
music can make somebody feel something, you’ve truly accomplished the goal of
making music,” Cosby said.
Cosby isn’t working on composing too much music right now, but it is something that sparks his interest. He experiments from time to time with online composition software and his piano.
“Because I know music theory well, I’m able to mess around on the piano with different chord progressions and melodies,” Cosby said. “Much of my understanding of music theory has actually come from playing around with different things on the piano.”
Cosby hopes to create songs and albums in the future, revolving around jazz.
“I try to stray away from the common chord progressions you hear in pop
music and try to imagine my writing as jazz,” Cosby said.
The emotions that music evokes, to Cosby, are never ending and that is at the core of his love for music.
“Music has made me feel sad, happy, blessed, sassy and pumped. Music provides a way for me to say what I want to say in the exact way I want to say it,” Cosby said. “Sometimes you can’t say exactly what you’re feeling through words, which is why music means so much to me.”
Cosby’s musical talent is evident but his character is also admirable.
“[Cosby] is already a great teacher with incredible patience and knowledge. Best of all, he does this with humility and grace that is typically seen in people twice his senior,” Band director Greg Wells said. “ I honestly in all his life have never once heard him say anything negative about anyone or anything. [If you] Think of any positive characteristic and Elijah fits it.”
Wells has watched Cosby transform into an excellent young musician.
“Elijah is one of the most versed musicians I’ve taught. He plays multiple instruments at the highest levels in the State.” Wells said.
Cosby began competitively performing with the high school band while still in middle school.
“We had a need for a drummer in our jazz band and [Cosby] started to play for usas an 8th grader. He took the band to the National Festival in Savannah, GA,” Wells said. “He truly saved our season that year! I’m so honored to have had that experience with him.”
Cosby is ranked top in the state and being awarded scholarships along the way. Last year, Cosby was selected as the first chair for the All State High School Orchestra and scored a 1 on both his snare solo at Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA). Cosby also scored a 1 on his State Solo and Ensemble solo performance on a 4-mallet marimba at State Solo and Ensemble. Scores are ranked on a 1-5 scale with 1 being the highest score that is attainable.
One thing Cosby is certain about is his passion for music. He plans on studying music further in college, and may continue the family tradition of becoming a band director.
While this senior has plenty of fond memories from the band to look back on, he will remember the things for which he has to thank Northview.
“Northview is where I’ve made friends, found my passion, conquered fears, met heroes, and more. It’ll always be special because of that,” Cosby said.
A spectacular young man 👨🏼 carrying on the phenomenal Colley Northview tradition of talented, congenial musicians. They are remarkably humble but so giving to their school and community. It seems he is destined to share his music 🎶 with many. Proud to have watched him flourish in the Northview community.