They say that movies are like life, but with a better soundtrack. For his senior project, Nathan Borchert strives to change that by writing and conducting his own symphony. The ambitious under-taking stems from a love of music that stretches back to middle school.

Borchert started play-ing music in sixth grade, where he took up vio-lin. What really sparked his interest in composi-tion, though, were the movie soundtracks he was exposed to. Inspired by artists like John Wil-liams, Danny Elfman and James Newton Howard, Borchert be-gan writing his own piano sonatas in eighth grade.

“At first I did it by hand—you know, with pen and paper,” Borchert said. “But then I got composition software for the com-puter, which allowed me to do more complex stuff.”

The complexity of Borchert’s work peaked on March 2nd, with

the completion of his symphony “The Servant’s Soul,” which was performed in its entirety at Poway’s Got Talent. The dramatic na-ture of the piece stunned and awed the crowd, who replied with a standing ovation, but the piece didn’t come without some hard work.

“Rehearsals were a little bit rough,” Borchert said. “I had about five rehearsals [with the orchestra], and never full attendance for

any of them. But on the day of Po-way’s Got Talent, everything came together, which was really nice.”

“The best thing about composing music,” he continued, “is the mo-ment when you’ve finished it and you hear it all come together. It’s amazing.”

In the future, Borchert hopes to attend Chapman University in Or-

ange, California, to pursue a degree in Music Composition and eventually move on to a career in film scoring, although he has also considered Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Wherever he may end up, Titans are advised to remember the name, as it only seems likely that Borchert will continue to hit all the right notes.

7FeatureMarch 30, 2012

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Sarnoff& Morin

awkward moments

ON

LeahBeing sick is something that we high school-

ers find to be a bitter-sweet experience. It is considered bitter because, in my case at

least, I lay motionless in bed while my mom tries to force feed me vitamins and juiced veg-etables. On the other hand, it is sweet because we get to escape from the mind-numbing classroom experience that students all dread.

Last week, I was fortunate and unfortunate enough to miss school for a whole two days. Upon my arrival back on campus I began to wonder: “How much did my teachers actually miss me?” I’m not trying to be pretentious or anything, but I find myself to be a great addi-tion to the classroom environment. From the random witty comment to the unprecedented awkward moment, I believe that I ordinarily would be missed during my two day absence.

I walked into my third period class which is taught by one of my favorite teachers and asked with a jubilant grin on my face, “Did you miss me?!” In a world where good things happen to me, the teacher would have retorted with a “Yes Leah, are you feeling okay now?”

We do not live in a world where good things happen to me. The teacher looked down on me with a confused and lackadaisical look and uttered “Oh…you were gone?” Some of the other students who were standing nearby chuckled at my dismay. I continued to awk-wardly stand there thinking he might continue our conversation; he did not. With a shattered self-confidence, I shuffled to my seat, which happens to be in the front, and sat down. How could he not have wondered where I was when he was taking attendance, or when he asked a question and there was one less arm raised? This was an outrage. He probably hasn’t noticed, but I am still angry.

ToriI was having a really stinky day at school

today, so I decided to go in the bathroom for a minute just to breath, wash my hands, get away from my work for a moment. I didn’t really have to go.

Normally staying away from the smell, I de-cided it was necessary to go in and do a mirror check making sure no one could see the pain-ful look on my face.

So I walk in the bathroom and someone is already in there. Great.

So I decided I was going to sit in a stall until she left, then just take my time washing my hands and what not.

The person that was in there of course was in the middle stall of three, so I was forced to go in one next to her. By the time I was in the stall I knew she was done having just flushed.

It was just dead silent. You know how after you go, you generally pull your pants back up, and then, um, get out of the stall? None of that.

I felt violated. I had to sit down with a dead silent person next to me listening. I was just sitting there thinking, “Is she listening to me? Why isn’t she leaving?” Giving up on her leav-ing the stall first I make my move. As soon as the faucet turns on there she comes, just to go to the sink right next to me. Rushing to get out of there. I go for the quick paper tow-els. Of course the dispenser empty and now I have to wipe my hands on my pants creating big wet smudges.

Now not only am I having a smelly day but I’m in a stinky mood.

“The best thing about composing

music is the moment when you’ve finished it and you hear it all come together. It’s amazing.” //NATHAN BORCHERT

LUKE CASTORStaff Writer

America’s Next Top PerformerSeniors’ sound spawns a successful symphony at 2012s Poway’s Got Talent

Awe Struck: Senior Nathan Borchert conducts his own symphony “The Servant’s Soul” for the 2nd annual Poway’s Got Talent competition. He received a standing ovation from the audience in the PAC when he finished his piece. MEGAN PERANTEAU // The Iliad

*Polled out of 200 students

Poway’sfavoritephone apps66% prefer Draw Something, 13% Snapchat, 11% Words with Friends, and 10% Hanging with Friends. What’s your favorite?

~Compiled by Leah Sarnoff and Tori Morin