Cody Halquist - Brockport

Cody Halquist's not just a top student. He's a top musician, and he's got his eye on the prize.

"I'd like to be first chair in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra because that's arguably the best in the world. I'd really like to be there."

This Brockport High School senior is one of the finest young french horn players in Rochester. He's the principal horn of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Last year, he won the concerto competition.

"That was pretty cool. To stand up in front at the Eastman Theater with the whole orchestra behind me and a bunch of people in the audience. That was pretty cool."

"Ten years down the road, I see him working his way up the orchestral ranks and becoming a first rate French Hornist working with other fine musicians from around the world," said music teacher Andrew Stoker.

Cody's been playing French Horn since he was in 4th grade. His father plays the trumpet, so brass instruments always take center stage.

"I used to want to be a cop and a paleontologist and all these weird things, and then when I started band, I just totally forgot about those things," said Cody. "If you're in an orchestra depending on the composer you can be the melody, the heroic part which is always my favorite part, it really depends on what piece you're playing."

Next year, Cody's off to college, most likely in the Midwest. He'll study music, with an eye on teaching music in the future. Don't be surprised if one day, you find him playing front and center at the historic Orchestra Hall in Chicago.