SHS Student Spotlight

David Bloemhof IV is a senior at Shafter High School with a long list of extracurricular and academic accomplishments. He plays the trumpet for the wind ensemble and jazz band, and plays the piano for the choir at the school.

David performed with the Kern County Honor Jazz Band at the Bakersfield jazz workshop on May 16. They performed an hour-long music set, with a professional studio recording the performance, which will be released on listening platforms.

David has played the piano since he was in second grade and says he has enjoyed every moment of his musical journey. He also has been teaching piano for two years.

David has been part of many musical and theatrical productions, performing with Shafter High School, Bakersfield Christian High School, conducting music for the Ford Theater and starring in many productions put on by the theater.

He will be preparing and conducting the musical "Footloose" for the Ovation theater in Bakersfield throughout July.

David says that all this experience from these shows "helps me understand the emotion and reason for music. All music has a reason and a story behind the lyrics."

With a lot of experience in music, David is often playing an instrument in school or playing in his free time, "You can either find me practicing piano at home or playing at a variety of restaurants in Bakersfield.'' he said. David often plays at the Buck Owens Crystal Palace.

David says that his ultimate goal is to be "the best musician I can be, to travel, to one day backup for a famous musician".

David plans to attend Bakersfield College for two years then transfer to USC or North Texas to study music composition and minor in business.

David says he would like to thank his teachers Doug Davis and Meg Wise, saying, "If it weren't for them I wouldn't be where I am now."

David's Instagram is at David_Pianoman.