Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Vincent Lima surprised Herriman High School's band, who performed his music.
- The band dedicated over 250 hours to a show inspired by Lima's songs.
- Students found Lima's visit insightful and emotional, enhancing their musical journey.
HERRIMAN — A Utah high school marching band that spent over 250 hours preparing a field show based on an indie-folk artist's music got a surprise they'll never forget.
In a YouTube video, Herriman High School band students asked for a chance to meet Vincent Lima, the musician whose music inspired their 2025 program.
"It would be really cool if we got to be able to somehow see him because I noticed he was coming to Salt Lake for his tour ... The worst they can say is no," said Aidan Knutson, a student who plays baritone for the band.
Some band students were skeptical of hearing back from the artist.
"I didn't think so. But apparently, we did," said Michae Hales, a tuba player.
And they didn't just hear from the artist; he came and surprised the students in class.
"I've been doing this since 5th grade. So I've been around for a while, but I've never actually met anyone like that," Hales said. "And to have one of the artists come to me was pretty cool."
"I think we were all just kind of taken (back). Like it took us a minute to kind of process what was going on, but it was just so cool and all of us were really happy," added Sadie Wilson, a clarinet player.
Wilson said that the band was familiar with Lima's work, especially with his songs "Orpheus" and "Eurydice."
"The band hit me up and they had this very cool YouTube video where they exclaimed my name and told me that they did this production based on Orpheus and Eurydice and my interpretation of the myth," Lima said.
The band centered their program around the Greek myth, a story about how Orpheus goes to the depths of the underworld to save his love Eurydice after she dies. They interpreted Lima's music with a marching band, complemented by a pianist and a vocalist.
"For us, we play music; it has a lot of emotion to it. There's a lot of emotion behind what we play and how we play it," Wilson said.
"I'm very grateful that they spent all that time. I've never seen a production so elaborate as a marching band," Lima said. "The vocals were beautiful and the production was beautiful and I was just so blown away."
Lima signed autographs and sat and talked with the band, who picked his brain about music.
"Super insightful. I mean, I've always wanted to do something musical in my life ... and the advice and stuff that he gave today could definitely really help me progress and start off my musical career early too," Knutson said of Lima's advice.
"To hear him say that the best way to do it is just do it, that hit home for me," Hales added.
Lima said he was very lucky to have been invited to come and talk with the students.
"I'm just grateful that they found the music and interpreted it in the way that they did. I've never seen anything so grand and beautiful and artful," he said.
The artist said it was a good break to be able to come and connect with students during his tour.
"I can't say I go to many high schools, so to come and have such a big group ... it's just cool to see so many young people that love music and are so good at it," Lima said.
And for the band? The students said it was an experience they won't forget.
"Especially because of how emotional it all was. That's the best word I can use," Wilson said. "Just playing with your heart and going through all this with your heart and your mind is really just huge."
Correction: In an earlier version, Aidan Knutson's name was incorrectly spelled Kuntson.
