Erath High’s Hoffpauir finds ‘healing’ in music, recognized by Abbeville Kiwanis Club

For many, music feeds the soul.
For Drew Hoffpauir, music helps to heal the soul.
Hoffpauir, a senior at Erath High and a drum major in the school’s band, explained to the Abbeville Kiwanis Club Tuesday during the group’s weekly meeting what exactly music means to him. The Kiwanis Club honored Hoffpauir as its Student of the Month.
“I have always had a passion for music,” Hoffpauir said. “It really came about when I joined the middle school band. Two years later I joined the high school marching band and I have been a member ever since.
“I have held the position of drum major for the past two years.”
Last November, when his father Joel Hoffpauir passed away at 48 years old, music went from an extracurricular activity for Hoffpauir to something more.
“My father suddenly passed away last November,” said Hoffpauir, whose mother Rachel also attended the meeting. “Music became the only way that I could express my feelings and emotions about the situation.”
Using that emotion, Hoffpauir has continued to serve as a drum major during his senior year. Reaching that level in his school’s band sits atop his accomplishments of the last four years.
“It has been a very important role for me,” Hoffpauir said. “I think it is my greatest accomplishment in high school. Being a drum major has taught me leadership and is something that is going to help me in the future.
Hoffpauir, who primarily plays the bassoon, will continue his journey with music after he graduates from Erath High in a few short weeks. He announced Tuesday that he plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he will focus on a degree in music business.
“I am going to put my passion to good use,” Hoffpauir said. “I want to create and produce music for the rest of my life.”
Part of that will always be to honor the life of his late father.
“I feel like the music I play keeps his memory alive,” Hoffpauir said. “For me, music is healing.”