Arts Students of the Week Hunter and Chase Maasen

Fraternal twins Hunter and Chase Maasen have very different ideas about playing music.

For Hunter, music is like a car. "It seems basic to most people," he said. "You move the stick shift and it drives. Nothing else to it. But to the engineers, it's a complex machine of moving parts having to do everything exactly right at the exact right time to create a movement forward. Music to me is like a car, complex, filled with melodies and harmonies, bass, emotions, soul, complexity, and people miss 90% of what happens."

For Chase, music is a battle. "You have many different players who are playing different rhythms and notes, and they all clash together," he said. "But the battle comes together to become this beautiful blend of all the clashes, which completes the melody and creates what seems like a chaotic event into an amazing arrangement."

As seniors at Niwot High School, the two brothers have had many opportunities to explore their ideas about music in Marching Band, Advanced Jazz Band, Advanced Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Orchestra.

According to Band Director Wade Hendricks, Chase and Hunter have been stalwarts of the music program at NHS since their arrival four years ago. "They have both forged their own paths through the performing arts at NHS," Hendricks said. "Chase has worked hard to develop a tremendous range on trumpet, allowing him to soar through the high notes and really sizzle when needed. Hunter plays viola with Mr. Chen in the orchestra program and was featured as a lead guitarist in the Marching Band this year, writing his own parts."

Chase picked up the trumpet in sixth grade, and as he progressed, he began to love the instrument more and more. "I have been able to study with several great teachers," he said, "including Hendricks and a private tutor named Joey Blunk." As a freshman coming into NHS, he was very shy, but band gave him many opportunities to build confidence. "Being MC (emcee), playing hard music, and all of the incredible people I have met have helped me express myself to become the person I always wanted to be," he said.

"Chase has also found a new way to use his perfect pitch by playing timpani in the percussion ensemble." Hendricks said.

Hunter plays viola and guitar, and enjoys experimenting with percussion. He began playing the viola in sixth grade, in middle school orchestra, and picked up the guitar after considerable encouragement from his father. He studied guitar with a private teacher, and in his sophomore year Hendricks invited Hunter to join the NHS Marching Band. "I feel that I have reached a level in my playing that I had never thought possible," he said, "where things that were once complex and hard for me to accomplish are now common sense."

Both brothers have found inspiration in film music. Chase loves movies that make the music a key part of the film. "Movies like 'La La Land' and 'Whiplash' do a very good job at this," he said, "and composer Justin Hurwitz did a great job at making the music for these movies so memorable."

For Hunter, each composer he discovers offers something unique. "I can't say I have one particular favorite, but I love the soundtrack scoring of Gareth Coker [which] has a special place in my heart. I'm a sucker for good metal music and for history, so a Swedish band called 'Sabaton' that mixes these two is what I reference when I need to play hard," Hunter said. "Most of my music career has been influenced by my great teachers, especially Mr. Chen and Mr. Hendricks."

Chase learned to play jazz by listening to jazz music. Of all the players he listened to, Maynard Ferguson was by far the one he likes the best. "He has such an incredible control over his range that inspired me to learn how to reach into my upper range," Chase said, "which is probably my favorite part about playing trumpet. He made jazz such an exciting and electrifying experience for me, and I strive to emulate that in my playing."

They agree that attending NHS was a good decision. "Niwot is a very friendly place where I have been able to find my place and people and make countless new friends along the way," Chase said. "I have really enjoyed some of the non-traditional classes offered at Niwot like my AP Econ classes."

In addition to music, Chase loves to work out, learn about politics and economics, fish and hunt, anything Star Wars, skiing, baseball, and spending time with his friends and family. Hunter loves to program, sim race, watch Formula One and GT racing. Other than that, he says, music is his life.

After graduation, Hunter plans to attend the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, majoring in computer science, with a minor in music and/or music theory. He hopes to continue with club orchestra or orchestra classes, and will continue to play guitar well into the future. Chase plans to attend Colorado State University, where he will study Business and Finance.

The brothers performed together in Marching Band with Hunter on guitar and Chase on trumpet. "Admittedly it's the same as playing with other ensembles for me," Hunter said. "He is another musician that just so happens to be my twin brother!" They also performed on a trip to Disney, with Hunter on percussion and Chase on trumpet. "Being able to play at Disney and explore the parks with my friends will be a memory I will never forget," Chase said.

"It's always fun," Chase added. "You're able to feed off the energy you give each other to make the music more exciting. Not only that but we can also get competitive from time to time, which helps push me to play better."

Both musicians will be performing their last concerts at NHS during the week of May 6.