Layla Hildenbrand, a freshman at West Henderson High School has shown her community that there is nothing that should stop anyone from following their dreams.
Hildenbrand plays the clarinet in the band at her high school, but her experience has not been quite the same as it is for others because she has been blind her entire life.
“We’re gonna pick up this instrument and see how it goes”, she said.
She started the band in 6th grade, but her love for music began long before that.Hildenbrand said she has also played the piano since she was four years old.
Her love for the clarinet has provided her with so much more.
The friends that I’ve met, the community, all the concerts and the competitions, just honestly the music – it's all been amazing,” she said.
She says one of her favorite parts of going to school is going to band class and playing music with her friends.
While playing an instrument blind can be overwhelming, Hildenbrand said that she knows braille music, which has helped her understand the notes and rhythm.
“It’s definitely a lot harder for me than it would be for my sighted peers. I have to pick up on a lot more nonvisual cues, a lot more sounds, and be a lot more attentive,” she said.
But, it is not something that she has ever let hold her back. Her band director, Allen Klaes, finds that inspiring.
She is very aware and her guide is very aware and I think it’s been a good little adventure for them to figure out. They’ve definitely built efficiency and trust with one another,” he said.
Klaes has been the band director at the high school for the last 17 years. He says that being in band himself while growing up, he felt inspired to lead students who share the same passion.
“One of the fun parts of my job is to help the kids be awesome. We help them feel like the rock stars that they are,” he said.
Hildenbrand said that it is a team effort and that she loves being able to be a part of making beautiful music.
Currently, they're gearing up for a themed show that most people are familiar with: Barbie.
“It’s pink and different types of music and color lots of different things, but it’s all Barbie themed,” she said.
“Barbie can be anything and so can you,” Klaes added.
Hildenbrand hopes their performance will show people that there is more to Friday Night Lights than just football.
She hopes to be an inspiration to others.
If you really feel that you love this thing and can go after it then go for it. Do whatever you need to do, get the help, get the resources to overcome that boundary and do something that you love,” she said.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/news/local/west-hendersons-high-school-layla-hildenbrand-breaks-barriers-band-blind-musician-community-layla-hildenbrand-allen-klaes#
