PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Benjamin Hobschaidt, a student trombonist at Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in Boca Raton didn't know Alex Schachter personally.
“I saw him at a live performance at Park Vista when he played in a battle of the bands,” said Hobschaidt. “But I didn’t meet him.”
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Schachter was a Stoneman Douglas High School marching band trombonist who was killed in a 2018 mass shooting at his school.
“He was a young budding trombonist like myself,” said Hobschaidt.
Benjamin is one of 50 student trombonists recently awarded an Alex Tribute Trombone. A gift from All County Music in partnership with the Conn-Selmer company. During a ceremony, student trombonists from Miami to Port Saint Lucie received a Conn tenor trombone. The same model Schachter played in middle school.
According to Fred Schiff, All-County Music president, and owner, the trombones which took months to plan and manufacture will serve as “Alex’ voice every day in band.”
"Because his life was taken short our hope was that his music and legacy can be continued throughout 50 different band rooms in South Florida,” said Hobschaidt,
Benjamin is one of 50 students continuing the legacy of a trombonist gone too soon and an accomplished recipient. He performs monthly at Lake Worth's Jazz on J Street and on downtown Delray Beach Street corners. He recently gave approximately $300 he earned from performing to Schachter's dad.
”I’m glad that my son wanted to give back,” said Karl Hobschaidt, Benjamin's father.
