AKRON, N.Y. (WKBW) — Many schools have talented students who stand out in a crowd, and in the Akron Central School District, one of their high school students is a "rock star" in the making.
Ethan Robinson kicked off last Friday’s homecoming pep assembly with his own rendition of the National Anthem on electric guitar. The video of his performance has made him a social media sensation across the community.
WATCH: Akron High School senior wows school and social media with guitar solo
"He's a rock star!” Akron High School Principal Steve Dimitroff said.
"We could not be prouder of Ethan,” Akron Central School District Superintendent Andrea Kersten Taylor said.
“It's always kind of been my passion,” said Robinson. "I wanted to make sure mine was unique and not just the base form, like I wanted to add a little spice to it."
“Doing the hair flips and seeing his confidence while he performed was probably the most exciting,” Ethan’s mother, Samatha Gedraitis, said.
His parents and school family were amazed at his powerful and incredible performance that in the "rock and roll" world would be described as "shredding it."
"And him – just starting off our program like that was awesome,” Dimitroff said.
"He just picked up a guitar one day and started playing, and wanted to take lessons, and it's just taken off," Ethan’s father, John Robinson, said.
When Ethan’s not jamming on his electric guitar, he rehearses with the Akron High School band, where he plays clarinet. But on Tuesday, he arrived late because he attends the Career and Technical Education (CTE) BOCES program for Diesel Tech.
"I’ve been playing the clarinet since I think about 4th grade, that's kind of where I fell in love playing music,” Robinson explained. “But when I started playing guitar, that's when I really found an instrument that I was passionate about that I wanted to play."
“What is it about music that helps you? Does it help you in other things in life?” I asked.
“Oh, for sure, with whatever I’m going through, there's music for everything, so it's always helped me, and I feel like I always had a deep connection with music,” replied Robinson.
And that “deep connection with music” is now viral. Robinson’s guitar solo has smashed the district's Facebook record with 90,000 video views and 2,400 likes.
“I don't think we've ever had more than a few hundred likes on any photos on our Facebook page," Superintendent Taylor said. "He has definitely taken Facebook by storm by Akron measures."
His mom was amazed by the social media response.
“Especially coming from such a small town and school, and community – it’s been really, really cool," said Gedraitis. "The joke to him Sunday night that it's probably the most action that Akron’s Facebook page has ever gotten and then the superintendent called me and told me that the next morning,”
Ethan’s high school band director, Brendon Bardo, said Robinson started guitar in middle school and is self-taught, but Ethan has taken guitar lessons.
“I think it's fantastic, Ethan's really been working hard," Bardo said. "He's definitely a self-driven student. We don't have a guitar here as a class."
His friends and school band members are very proud of Robinson’s talents.
“He really put a lot of effort, and all the effort really showed how amazing he was,” said Christopher Ginestre.
“He really amazed me,” said Bruce Karmazyn.
10th grader Evan Yang said he thinks Robinson’s guitar solo was “amazing."
“The crowd went crazy. He didn't expect it,” Yang stated.
Ethan told me he's putting together a band, but is planning to go to college and continue toward a career in Diesel Tech.
"Diesel Tech by day, rock star by night?” I asked.
“Yeah! Yeah,” Robinson laughed.
