In the theatre world they're called triple threats: performers who can sing, dance and act. But add to that the ability to play an instrument and compose music and you've got talent out of the ball park. One local 14-year-old student does all that and has written a composition that's taken him on an amazing journey.
Commodore Primous is only a freshman but is a stand-out among his peers at Pebblebrook High School's performing arts magnet program.
Commodore doesn't live anywhere near the Mableton school, but says that being in his element is well worth the commute.
"I feel like [music] is a huge part, like it actually defines me, you know, as a person," Primous said.
In school he focuses on voice and dance, but Commodore has also mastered five other instruments, including his favorite -- the piano.
A piece that Commodore wrote in the eighth grade, "The Triumph of Day," caught the attention a friend, who urged him to enter it in to a contest sponsored by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The winner would have their composition performed in a live concert by the symphony itself.
Commodore's piece was named the winner.
"I was like 'wait,did I win that?' and she said, ‘Yes.' And I was like 'whoo,' I was bouncing off the walls, I was so excited," he said.
Michael Kurth, an Atlanta Symphony musician who judged the contest and helped fine tune the piece, had high praise for Commodore.
"It had layers, it had rhythm parts and it had harmony parts and it had accompaniment parts," Kurth said. "It takes a talented youngster to write something that's both beautiful and sophisticated."
The high school freshman has his composition played to a packed house by a symphony orchestra in front of fellow students.
"It's really cool that I got to be a part of this experience and hear the orchestra play my song, and they played it beautifully," Primous said.
The 14-year-old said he's simply doing what he loves to do.
"I sleep, I wake up, eat and play music until I eat again and then sleep," he said.
Musical talent runs in Commodore's family -- his mom, dad and younger sisters all play instruments.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is going to include Commodore's piece in their regular public concert series on April 4 and 5.
Sunday, May 19 2013 2:00 PM EDT2013-05-19 18:00:39 GMT
President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of soggy graduates and guests at Morehouse College's spring commencement ceremony on Sunday.
President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of soggy graduates and guests at Morehouse College's spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, telling graduates to take the power of their example-- as black men graduating from college-- and use it to improve people's lives.
Sunday, May 19 2013 1:53 PM EDT2013-05-19 17:53:40 GMT
President Barack Obama addressed graduates at Morehouse College's commencement ceremony in Atlanta on Sunday.
President Barack Obama addressed graduates at Morehouse College's commencement ceremony in Atlanta on Sunday, marking the first time a sitting president has made a commencement address in Georgia since 1938. See photos from his visit to Atlanta here!
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:09 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:09:05 GMT
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
Sunday, May 19 2013 4:05 PM EDT2013-05-19 20:05:22 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:37 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:37:14 GMT
Commuters are bracing for a difficult trip around southwest Connecticut and to New York City beginning Monday as workers repair the Metro-North commuter rail line crippled by a derailment and crash.
Commuters are bracing for a difficult trip around southwest Connecticut and to New York City beginning Monday as workers repair the Metro-North commuter rail line crippled by a derailment and crash.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Sunday, May 19 2013 2:56 PM EDT2013-05-19 18:56:41 GMT
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:24 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:24:33 GMT
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:14:35 GMT
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 18 2013 8:33 PM EDT2013-05-19 00:33:09 GMT
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
