The music industry is continuously changing; it is intriguing for those who feel called to pursue it. Those who finish their studies at Hammonton High School don’t waste much time pursuing such a career.

Whether it is behind the scenes or at a performance level, these graduates possess a great amount of passion for what they are doing.

Mario DiPaolo, who graduated in 2011, currently attends the Art Institute of Philadelphia, where he studies Audio Engineering. While in college, two of his friends and fellow HHS graduates, Jorge Estrada (’13) and Nick Gelone (’13), approached him about becoming the new bassist in their band, Parkwood. DiPaolo was eager to jump into the project. The band is currently working on their new EP that will be released this coming spring.  The band’s future after that is somewhat circumstantial.

“From there, anything is possible. We’ve talked about the idea of touring, doing more shows, and even more releases after that; the possibilities are endless,” DiPaolo said

Parkwood isn’t the only local band with graduates that is releasing an EP soon.

Teethforteeth is also currently in the process of working on their next EP. Teethforteeth consists of five graduates (Brandon Waters, Pat Fonte, Anthony Burgos, Derick Rodriguez, and Christopher Kitchen). Kitchen, the drummer, said that he joined the band when Burgos, guitarist, talked to him about it during youth group.

One thing led to another, and Kitchen became teethforteeth’s new drummer in May of 2012. They are all aware that the music industry is always changing and it can be a difficult path, but their passion for what they love remains the same.

“We all hope to become something greater. We hope for the best but expect the worst. Some of us have a back-up plan, but we’re trying to show people what teethforteeth is about [which is] spreading our own little messages of hope, happiness, and so on through our lyrics,” Kitchen explained.

One does not necessarily have to be in a band to try to become a part of the music industry. Zack Lutz (’12) attends the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where he is studying to graduate with a Jazz Performance Major concentrating on saxophone, specifically the baritone saxophone.

Lutz is taking it one step at a time; he is trying to the best saxophone player he can be and hopefully all his hard work will lead him to his goal: Broadway. Jazz, its rich tradition,  and the progression of how jazz came to be captivated Lutz, which made him want to immerse himself in it.

“I find improvising on a high level, and really understanding what you’re doing, has the same intellectual degree as playing a Mortitz Moszkowski piano etude flawlessly at Carnegie Hall,” he said.

Whether it be through something that is behind the scenes or at a performance level, these former students appear to be following the advice that many of them received upon graduation: do what makes you happy, for in the end the only thing that holds people back are themselves.

Those interested in pursing a similar route to the music industry do not need to wait until college. Attending shows, starting a band,  going to “jam sessions,” and joining a street team are all ways to become familiar with the music culture.