Moorestown student Annika DeBear is the creative force behind a young musicians program at Baker, South Valley and Roberts elementary schools that she brought to the district last year.
DeBear, a junior at Moorestown High School, developed the idea in 2024 after reflecting on her memory of singing with the school’s Madrigals at Baker during the holidays. The group inspired DeBear to bring that same energy and excitement for instrumental music to the elementary schools.
“I thought that maybe band could do something that the Madrigals did, where we come and show kids how fun it is being in band and make them excited to join,” DeBear explained, “because band has so many other benefits other than just learning music.”
Those benefits, she says, include meeting new people while doing something that’s good for the soul. Launching the young musicians program was something DeBear believes wasn’t just good for the community, but a way to help introduce more young students to music.
DeBear first pitched the idea to Patricia Rowe, the district’s arts and technology supervisor. Following that, she had to outline a program set and script; communicate daily with principals and administrators at each school; secure musicians; schedule multiple rehearsals; handle all logistics; and produce three shows, one at each township elementary school.
Those shows happened last June in front of hundreds of students and adults, with the program’s performers inviting teachers on stage to try an instrument. They also taught the audience a little about music theory, and everyone got to sing along to the theme song for the children’s animated series “Bluey.”
All three shows were so well received that this year, DeBear was invited back for repeat performances at Baker, South Valley, Roberts and the Upper Elementary School.
“You don’t know in the beginning if it’s going to be successful, and it was kind of scary thinking that I was just going to be wasting my time because it wouldn’t work out,” DeBear recalled of launching the program, “but the rewarding part was when it did work out and everything was coming together and it was a success, and all the kids were loving it and having a blast and really getting excited about the instruments.
“That was super rewarding.”
At 17, DeBear is an accomplished trumpet player who’s developed a strong musical base for classical, symphonic and jazz trumpet performance. She’s earned recognition at regional and state levels, and she’s committed to continued growth as a musician while contributing meaningfully to every ensemble she joins.
Her experience includes performing with the New Jersey All-State Symphonic Band, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the All-South Jersey Jazz Band.
At school, she’s the founder and president of the Youth Musicianship Education Group and a member of the honors wind ensemble, the honors jazz band and the concert band. She also founded the holiday brass trio and has performed with her local choir for various churches.
DeBear is lead trumpet for the All-South Jersey Jazz Band for three years running, and has served as the first chair trumpet player in the All South Jersey Symphonic Band, three years running. She is also one of only four trumpet players in the youth orchestra and one of only two females in the New Jersey All-State Jazz Band in 2025.
To DeBear, the trumpet produces a unique sound that cuts through the rest of the orchestra. The hard part is setting the embouchure, or lip position, but once that’s done, it feels rewarding to play.
“When you’re first starting (to play an instrument), don’t get bogged down on technique,” she advised. “Do it because you like it and not because you want to be good at it. You’ll know if you like it, and if you like it, you’ll be good automatically.”
DeBear’s parents described her as driven from a young age. Jessica DeBear recalled the time her daughter tried to roll a heavy log into Strawbridge Lake. She tried and tried and refused to give up, eventually succeeding.
It was clear, her mom said, that DeBear had some crazy determination.
“All along the way, Annika has been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by absolutely amazing mentors and teachers,” Jessica noted, “from her piano teacher, Sheila Huff, who taught her at age 4 to read music before she could actually read, to Chris Norris, her beloved trumpet teacher.”
Norris first taught DeBear in private lessons at the beginning of sixth grade and eventually encouraged her to try out for the youth orchestra. He arranged for additional lessons via Zoom with Dr. Karl Sievers, principal trumpet for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and professor at the University of Oklahoma, and Rusty Smith, trumpet professor at the University of North Carolina.
“The (high school) music program is excellent,” Jessica pointed out, “and getting students excited about it at an early age is a key for keeping the program thriving. The fact that Annika wants to share her love of music with those kids makes this momma very proud, and I know she hopes that the program will continue on even after she graduates in 2027.
“As Annika’s mom, I’m of course incredibly proud of her accomplishments, but possibly more proud of her drive. If she’s passionate about an idea, she makes it happen.”
Moorestown student Annika DeBear (left) with the high school’s Youth Musicianship Education Group.
