OKEECHOBEE – An Okeechobee teen spent his second summer as a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum Corps. Traveling across the country from Muncie, Ind. to Everett, Wash. to the World Championship finals in Indianapolis, Ind., 17-year-old Rocco Cohen is a world class trumpet player, spent his summer out in the heat perfecting his performance.

Rocco, who will be a senior at Okeechobee High School this year, credits his love for playing to teachers Mr. Bowen at Osceola Middle School and Mr. LaFlam at Okeechobee High School.

This is Rocco’s third year marching with Drum Corps International and second with Spirit of Atlanta. Last year, he also did one year in open class with Heat Wave. This summer, he performed a flugelhorn solo and a duet with a trombone player in a few of the shows. A flugelhorn is a German brass instrument similar to a hybrid of a trumpet and cornet.

Rocco’s summer tour will end with the world championship final on Aug. 9.

According to their website, https://www.spiritofatlanta.org/, Spirit of Atlanta was founded in 1976 and is a “non-profit youth arts organization that enriches young lives through the transformative power of music and performance. Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, we are renowned for our bold, innovative shows and a culture that cultivates passion, discipline, and creativity.”

Their mission is to “create life-changing experiences for performers and audiences alike.” 

When he is not playing music, Rocco is busy taking care of his animals. His family has chickens, goats and pigs, and Rocco shows his chickens at the Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show. With his income from the sale of his animals, he is able to help pay his drum corps fees.