register |  login
› AURORA
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
RECENT STORIES

Gateway grad jams with Beyoncé

Contributed by: Mary Margaret Rangel on 8/31/2007

When Tia Fuller picked up a musical instrument in third grade at Wheeling Elementary School, she had no idea that one day she would perform with a Grammy winner. Her journey has taken her across the world with international celebrity and singer Beyoncé.

While at Wheeling, Fuller learned to play the recorder. In fourth grade, her parents bought her a flute at a school auction and her love for music grew.

A few years later, Fuller played the flute at Aurora Hills Middle School under the direction of music teacher John Toepfer. Toepfer suggested that she switch from flute to saxophone because of the similarities in the instruments.

"Tia's musicianship was always outstanding," said John Toepfer, Aurora Hills Middle School Music Teacher. "I remember her love of life, her sense of who she was and where she was going, and the smile in her voice every day."

Fuller attended Gateway High School where she played flute in the concert band, saxophone in the jazz band and drums in the marching band. "I remember practicing for 4 to 5 hours a day," said Fuller. "Our drum instructor stressed the need to be disciplined in order to excel. I learned the importance of building skills, being productive while practicing and working as part of a team."

Fuller graduated from Gateway in 1994 and later earned a bachelor's degree in music from Spelman College and a master's degree in jazz pedagogy/performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

In June 2006, Fuller learned that R&B artist Beyoncé was looking for an all-female band. She auditioned along with thousands of hopefuls and is now playing saxophone in Beyoncé's band. "Beyoncé chooses musicians for her all-female band who complement each other. Her show reflects diversity of music genres - funk, classical, Coltrane and gospel. It's great to be a part of this group," said Fuller.

Fuller has played more than 150 concerts with Beyoncé and credits her success to her early musical career in APS.

"I have to be consistent in my performance while I am on tour, and this takes a lot of discipline," said Fuller. "I learned about discipline, diligence and consistency from my teachers and family."

To read more about Fuller's amazing career and hear music from her Healing Space CD, visit www.tiafuller.com.


SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story



Current Rating
Based on 1 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the story

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Mary Margaret Rangel has posted 97 stories and 0 comments since joining on 4/2/2007. Mary Margaret Rangel 's average story rating is 5.
SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY
STORY RSS FEEDS
WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?
Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyone what events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

Loading Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

This YourHub.com community is produced by The Denver Newspaper Agency
Web Development and Channel Analytics provided by Indigio

terms of use //  privacy policy
the staff //  advertise //  help & faq
buy photos