DEDICATED TRUMPETEER — Though he’s still a sophomore, Zachary Gray of Bridgton has garnered an impressive long list of honors for his skills as a trumpet player.

When he was just a freshman, Zachary Gray tied for the highest score in the state among high school trumpet players.

Now a sophomore, the honors just keep racking up for this Lake Region High School Concert Band member.

Six years of practice and dedication — not to mention a good set of lungs — have led Gray, the son of Jody and Daniel Gray, to be selected for the National Association for Music Education’s All-National Honors Band, which will perform this October at the Opryland Hotel.

He’s just finishing up a stay at the Southern Maine Music Academy Camp, where he played 4th Chair Trumpet. This fall, he’ll be performing with the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, along with his regular concert band performances. Somehow, he’ll also find time to continue playing trumpet with the Mineral Springs Brass Ensemble of Kennett High School, where he’s been a member since his middle school days.

Zachary began playing the trumpet six years ago, and it seems he thrived in his choice of musical instrument. At both the middle school and high school level, he’s been a part of just about every regional music festival, at both the District II and Southern Maine levels.

His performance this year as principal trumpet at the All-State Music Festival led to his selection as a member of this year’s NAfME All-National Honors Band.

A soft-spoken young man, Zach doesn’t make a lot of fuss about his accomplishments. His mom, the chairwoman of the SAD 61 Board of Directors, holds no such reservations, however. She’s proud of her son.

Zach said that when he graduates high school, he wants to go on to college to major in Music Education, and eventually plans to earn his doctorate in Music Theory.