Billy Batson's more extraordinary brother Nathanael

[RememberSchiff]

Eagle Nathanael Batson, 18  has been selected as the 2019 Section 1 recipient of the Heart of the Arts Award, making him eligible to be the national winner, who will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS summer meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“I’m honored,” he said Thursday in the music room at the high school in Fairfield. “It just kind of shows, with respect to what I’ve been through, my tribulations and adversities. I’m so overcome, and I so love music.

“It shows I love music and have a heart for music. That’s the exact purpose of the award — somebody has heart for music, heart for art.”

Nathanael, 18, is legally blind despite three rounds of chemotherapy that began at age 5.

Like his sister Corina, 30, and his mother Yvonne, 59, Nathanael has a rare hereditary disorder, neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors throughout the body.

In music, Nathanael has qualified and played with the Kennebec Valley Music Educators’ Association Band every year of high school and the All-State Band as a sophomore. Batson memorizes all of his music and is well-known for his stirring performances of the Star-Spangled Banner at school, civic and community events.

Outside of music, Batson achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America during his early teens by organizing a Pops Band that performed a free concert at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Augusta. He also participated in the 2017 National Scout Jamboree Band in West Virginia, which performed for more than 40,000 people from around the world.

More of his story at source link:

Scout salute and a Shazam! to Nathanael Batson,

https://www.centralmaine.com/2019/03/17/fairfield-high-school-musician-receives-national-heart-of-the-arts-award/

https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Lawrence-HS-student-wins-national-award-507105261.html

https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/despite-vision-loss-lawrence-trumpeter-rocks-the-tournament/97-f6ecbcda-4b94-4d3f-864a-ff6aa9c25a5e

Edited March 24, 2019 by RememberSchiff
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