Whether on stage singing his heart out in the choir, practicing music in the band room for an upcoming marching band competition, or buzzing in the winning answer for the Knowledge Bowl team, senior Cole Coyner shines under the limelight when the pressure is on.
Music in particular has always been an important part of Coyner’s life as evident by his involvement in the performing arts over the last four years. At a young age, Coyner started learning piano after being inspired by his sister’s piano lessons that he attended. While temporarily stopping during COVID, Coyner returned to taking piano lessons and added singing.
“After COVID, I started doing hybrid piano and singing lessons, and then it sort of just shifted to all singing lessons because I really like knowing how to play piano, but I really enjoy singing anytime,” Coyner said. “I have to force myself to practice piano, but if I am just in my room by myself, I will just practice singing because it is fun.”
That shift to focusing more on singing propelled Coyner to join choir in high school where he has improved and matured his singing each year as one of the baritone voices. With his growth has come bigger opportunities, as seen with his original song “Socal Snow” featured on the annual Not-So-Silent Night Album this year and his upcoming solo in the Vocal and Jazz showcase on May 22. Outside of choir, Coyner has also picked up more prominent roles in the Buena musicals since joining sophomore year, going from ensemble to playing Rolf Gruber in The Sound of Music to playing Grand Pabbie in Frozen this past production.
“He started off normally as an inexperienced singer, and it’s getting to the point where I think he’s really finding new parts to his voice now as a senior where he’s getting a more even round sound,” choir director Kevin Downey said. “I can’t wait for his final performance and to see how far he’s gone because he’s gone from auditions and not getting parts to getting multiple parts and being able to sing in our showcase.”
Not only has Coyner found his voice, but he has also helped other students do the same. As the baritone section leader, Coyner has been a leader for them, helping students learn the fundamentals of singing and supporting them throughout the process.
“I think the last few years, he’s [been] trying to help and give back to the program and help the new people learn along the way and model for them,” Downey said.
Another musical activity Coyner has been doing for four years is marching band where he has played synth in the front ensemble for the band’s performances during halftime and at competitions on the weekend. The long hours of practices and competitions after school, during holidays and weekends alike, have fostered friendships and connections that have made marching band a special group and community for Coyner.
“All the people who I am closest with are band kids who I met either through marching band or being in the proximity of marching band,” Coyner said. “Obviously I am in band, I am in choir, I am in theater, but if I had to diagnose myself with something it would be a band kid. Those are without a doubt the people who I have connected the most with and the people that I feel the most comfortable with.”
While Coyner has performed several times in the spotlight (whether the stadium or theater lights), he has also excelled academically as a top 20 senior and co-captain of the Knowledge Bowl team where they brought home first place this year. Coyner is also president of the Gender Sexuality Alliance club, another important community for him that he has been a part of since freshman year and strives to be a welcoming community for LGBTQ+ students.
“When I first came to high school, I wanted to be involved. I wanted to meet other queer people. I wanted to experience a sense of community,” Coyner said.
Despite the many activities and extracurriculars he balances throughout his day, Coyner takes the time to care for others and make sure they know that he is always there for them if they ever need anything. Coyner will be attending UC Davis and majoring in psychology with a goal of becoming a therapist and a psychologist. With a love for listening to others and making their day better, it is no surprise that he would want to do just that for a career.
“If somebody looks upset…and we could talk about it, I feel like I [could] make their day better or give them emotional support…That is my favorite thing ever. It is the thing I most consistently enjoy doing, and I have never regretted doing it,” Coyner said.
