Summer 2011

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Bryant Millet
Photo by Cathy Sunu

Bryant Millet

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Hometown: Westford, Mass.
Major: Trumpet performance

Defining anecdote: When I was a freshman in Jones for the first couple of weeks, I didn’t really know anybody who was living in my suite at the time. I saw a group of people hanging out, so I ran and grabbed my ukulele and played some songs for them. I’m normally a shy person, but if I have an instrument in my hand, I’m a completely different person.

Top accomplishment:Being a part of Axiom Brass, a professional brass quintet. They recruited me in June 2010, and I competed at a music fest in South Korea with them.

What was your first instrument? It was the trumpet at age 6. I also taught myself guitar. My parents bought it for me when I was 7, but I lost interest until I figured out that I could play Beatles songs on it. I’ve also taught myself bass guitar, mandolin, ukulele, a little bit of piano.

Favorite class? Introduction to Russian Literature, taught by Gary Morson (see “Russian Lit — Live”). The books — The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky and Anna Karenina by Tolstoy — have such fascinating lessons, such as the importance of little things in life and how you can’t live your life waiting for the big things to happen.

Any regrets? I never got to be in the marching band. It looks like a lot of fun, and I wish I’d had time for it.

What’s next? I plan to stay in the Chicago area, possibly Evanston, and continue playing with Axiom Brass.