Look At All Those Jorgensens
Four members of the same family play in the Spirit of Stratford Marching band.
(L-R) Nora, Benjamin, Ginny, and Gracie Jorgensen pose in the band room.
Most young people can barely handle seeing their siblings every day at home. Benjamin, Nora, Gracie, and Ginny Jorgensen all play instruments and participate in the Spirit of Stratford Marching Band together.
Benjamin, a senior, and Gracie, an eighth-grader, play the French horn. Nora, a sophomore, plays the clarinet. Ginny, a sixth grader, plays percussion.
At first, Benjamin was not interested in music. His parents forced him to play an instrument for fifth grade band. He found it this same year, however, that he actually loved music.
Nora was inspired to join band after watching her older brother, and he told the rest of the family about how fun it is.
“After I had done it, it was kind of like [my sisters] were going to do it regardless,” Benjamin said. “Especially because my mother considers music to be a really beautiful and essential thing that people should have in their lives.”
Their mother, Mrs. Sarah Jorgensen, played the flute in high school. Everyone in the Jorgensen’s family plays an instrument except for their father, Dr. Dennis Jorgensen.
I think it makes band more fun because all four of us are in it. It also helps expand your friend group because all of my sister’s friends and my brother’s friends are in band, and it is more fun when you know more people in it. — Nora Jorgensen
Having so many musical people in the family does, however, come with a downside.
Since they play different instruments, they cannot practice their music together at home, which becomes irritating when two people decide to practice at the same time. They have a room dedicated to playing music on the first floor in their two story home.
They practice often, and Benjamin, Nora, and Gracie have all been accepted to District Honor Band.
They usually practice four days a week, but when they have an audition coming up, they will put in extra time.
“Recently, I tried out for Carnegie Hall, and for two weeks straight, I was practicing multiple times a day,” Benjamin said.
Their similar goals lead to some healthy competition between the siblings.
“That is the reason why I chose a different instrument than Benjamin,” Nora said. “I didn’t want to have to compare myself with him.”
Since Benjamin and Gracie play the same instrument, Benjamin serves as a teacher for Gracie.
Any competition between the Jorgensens must be for fun though because they love being in band together.
“I think it makes band more fun because all four of us are in it,” Nora explained. “It also helps expand your friend group because all of my sister’s friends and my brother’s friends are in band, and it is more fun when you know more people in it.”
Sabina Ajjan —or Sabean, as denominated by her friends— is a junior. This is her fourth year at Stratford and her third year on The Gazebo staff where...
