Spotlight on: Peyton Gillen
January 2026 High School Student of the Month
The Student Council decides monthly student and teacher awards with a specific category each month. The category for January 2026 was “musician” for students and “most captivating” for teachers.
The Senior Student of the Month awards go to two seniors per month who are nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-11.
The High School Teacher of the Month award goes to one teacher per month who is nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-12. All Teachers of the Month become eligible to become Teacher of the Year in June.
The January 2026 Senior Students of the Month are Peyton Gillen and Cooper Jordan, and the January 2026 High School Teacher of the Month is Carrie Kane.
Below is a Q&A with Peyton Gillen:
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Q. What does being selected as Student of the Month mean to you as a musician?
A. Being selected as Student of the Month in the category of musician is a privilege, as it shows that my work in the band, jazz band and choir doesn’t go unnoticed. I have spent many years in the music program here, and I’ve put a lot of hard work into it, so it is a great honor to be recognized for it.
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Q. Which instrument or instruments do you play, and when did you begin learning them?
A. In our symphonic band and jazz band, I play the tenor saxophone, but I can play the alto, soprano and baritone saxophones as well. I have been playing saxophone since I was in fourth grade, and it has stuck with me as a good hobby that I enjoy.
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Q. What motivated you to get involved in music? Are there any musicians who inspire you?
A. I mainly got into playing saxophone, as you were required to participate in either choir or band in elementary school, and I play today as I enjoy playing complicated music and it passes as a great hobby. There isn’t necessarily a popular musician, but Mr. Gordon was the biggest source of inspiration to grow and get better as a musician.
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Q. What piece or song do you most enjoy performing, and what makes it special to you?
A. A piece of music that I enjoy performing is “Die with a Smile” by Bruno Mars, as it is a featured tenor saxophone solo. It may not be the most special, but it allows me to have a very fun and diverse experience while playing.
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Q. What accomplishment in your musical journey are you most proud of?
A. My biggest accomplishments have been being named freshman and junior player of the year in the band, as well as being named as a Class B all star in the Fonda-Fultonville Jazz Festival.
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Q. Is there a performance or musical experience that has been especially memorable for you?
A. As a student, I have been grateful for the opportunity to do a few musicals. All of them were special in their own way as it brought me closer to my friends, and each and every single one of them were fun to be a part of.
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Q. If you had the opportunity to perform alongside any musician or group from any era, who would you choose and why?
A. I find John Coltrane as a great musician, as I have done some of his songs under Mr. Gordon, and they had great scores. So, if I could, I would like to learn some techniques from him to have a better stage presence and how to go about certain pieces of music. I also don’t particularly indulge too deeply in musicians, but there are several immensely talented musicians.
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Q. Is there anyone you would like to recognize or thank for encouraging and supporting your musical growth?
A. Even though he doesn’t teach here anymore, I’d like to thank Mr. Gordon, as he helped me get better and more skilled with my instrument. He provided a great source of motivation and inspiration to get better in every way I could as a musician. Additionally, I would like to thank Mr. Decker and Mrs. Heuser, as they have been great towards me this year and have always provided positive, but critical feedback that helps me get better. Lastly, I’d like to thank my mom for being my biggest supporter at all of my concerts and encouraging me to be a part of HHS’s music program.