Drake da Ponte didn’t have any real expectations when he sat down last spring to audition for Washington State University’s jazz band. As an incoming freshman, the trombonist figured the first band was out of his reach, much less first chair.

That’s just what the Mount Si grad got, though: first chair trombone in WSU’s lead jazz band. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering da Ponte was actually recruited by the university to run track and cross-country.

“He’s a very accomplished young man,” said da Ponte’s mother, Suzanne. “His father and I are very proud.”

Da Ponte first took up the trombone in fifth grade. With a concert violinist father, it made sense that da Ponte would be musically inclined, so someone gave him a trombone and told him to give it a try.

But it wasn’t until the summer of his junior year in high school that da Ponte really fell in love with the instrument, and began to cultivate his interest in jazz. He was drawn to jazz’s improvisational nature and the overall feel of the music.

“It really clicked after that,” he said.

It clicked enough that da Ponte decided he wanted to study music at a university. He also wanted to continue running, though, and it was that pursuit that drew him to Washington State University.

“This is a great school for running,” da Ponte said. Fortunately for da Ponte, the school wanted him as well.

At WSU, da Ponte, who runs the mile, 800 meter race, 3,000 meter race, and the eight kilometer race, is able to indulge his love of running and academically pursue his musical interests. He manages to balance the two without too much trouble.

Now in his first semester, da Ponte has found WSU to be very rewarding.

“I think I fit in really well,” he said. “As soon as I got here, I made a ton of friends.”

Da Ponte is also excelling in his first chair position with the Jazz band.

“I’m doing really well in that spot,” he said.

In addition to studying music, da Ponte enjoys the practical experience he gets as a member of WSU’s jazz band, taking part in jazz festivals, playing at local venues, and finding opportunities to record in the studio.

“It’s a fun band to play in,” he said.

As much fun as he’s having now, though, da Ponte isn’t yet sure if he’ll pursue a career as a professional musician.

“It’s really hard to make it as a musician,” he said.

Because of that, da Ponte is backing up his music studies with chemistry and history classes. Da Ponte has an interest in biological sciences, especially marine biology, and may pursue that career path one day.

For now, though, da Ponte is enjoying his first two loves, jazz and running, and is having a great time doing it at a university he really feels a part of.

“I had two things that I really like to do,” he said. So far, he’s doing them well.