Cpl. Paul A. Tafoya, a 2008 Polk County High School graduate, has been nominated for Marine Musician of the Year.
Tafoya is currently stationed in Kaneohe, Hawaii, and is a trumpet player with the U.S. Marine Forces Pacific band. He is a member of the MARFORPAC partyband, showband, ceremonial band and jazz combo. He also plays for fun at local venues in Kaneohe in his spare time.
Recent engagements with the MARFORPAC band took Tafoya to American Samoa, Tonga, Guadalcanal, Japan, Vietnam and New Zealand. His duties with the band have ranged from playing an opener for Hoobastank and Puddle of Mud to performing for Vice President Joe Biden during his recent visit to Hawaii this past July.
Video from a recent performance with the MARFORPAC showband in New Zealand can be viewed on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k_7pKrUVpA.
Tafoya began his music career as a student at Polk County Middle school and soon became a member of the Polk County Cadets Marching Band.
For more information about the Polk County Cadets, call director Cindy Gilbert at 828-894-2525.