Conway graduate joins United States Marine Band

When Ronnie Grace went to pick out an instrument for the sixth-grade band in the Conway School District, he was disappointed when every percussion spot was filled.

"Then they put a trombone in front of my face and I guess it stuck," he said Thursday.

Ronnie Grace, a 2007 graduate of Conway High School, is one of very few Arkansans who have the honor of saying they have been selected to play with the United States Marine Band.

Throughout his grade school career, he made his way through the various band programs, making the all-region band six years in a row and the all-state band two years.

Upon graduation, Ronnie Grace took his full-paid scholarship to the University of Central Arkansas and enrolled in classes, but his mother said it was just a few months before he realized the college life was not for him.

"He went to UCA until the end of October, when he realized it was not a place where he could be focused and it was not structured enough for him," his mother, Kathy Grace, said. "He said something about joining the Marines and I told him God gave him a talent and he should at least try out for the band."

Even though Ronnie Grace had convinced himself he did not have a shot at making the prestigious group, he followed his mother's advice and tried out.

"He did an audition over the phone and after that someone flew to Little Rock from Dallas to do a personal audition and he was accepted into the music program," Kathy Grace said. "Then he did basic training and went through everything, graduated in March and they shipped him to Norfolk, Va. to the Naval Amphibious Music School."

After a sixth-month program in Virginia, Ronnie Grace served as the honor graduate in a commencement ceremony Friday, Oct. 10, and is now a lance corporal, his mother said.

He said his next step is a three-year stint with the band at a recruit depot in Paris Island, S.C., playing a graduation every Friday night, parades and various ceremonies.

Ronnie Grace said Thursday, during a visit to his family's home in Conway, he is still astonished at the fact that he was accepted into the program.

"I didn't think it was possible for someone like me to make it," he said. "Especially growing up out here in the country, it was a real change."

During his time at the school, Ronnie Grace said he liked the daily routine of waking up, training, going to class and playing his horn; however, he said he is ready for the next stage of his life.

Although he will only play with the band for three years and he is not sure where his life will take him after that, Ronnie Grace and his mother agreed that music will always be a big part of his life.

"Music has always been there for him," Kathy Grace said. "And we really agreed with the commander who spoke at the graduation, who said he wonders what the world would be like without music we have music for funerals, we have music for weddings and we have music for all ceremonies. Music is a part of all of our lives in some shape, form or fashion."

Ronnie Grace paid a visit to some of the most influential people in his musical career Thursday the band directors of the Conway School District. He said it was good to speak to them because it brought back good memories and reminded him how much he loved music.

"Conway's music program is just unbelievable and I think it's wonderful that Ronnie has gone so far with it," Kathy Grace said. "I knew he had that talent and it just blossomed under direction of Jan and Tim Cunningham and Todd Johnson."

Kathy Grace also said although her son was busy with music and also played baseball in high school, she knew how important it was for her to be part of his life.

"There has to be a parent or somebody backing these children from day one," she said. "I never missed a concert, I never missed a ball game and every time he performed I was there, and I am so proud to see him go so far."

(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)