Smile

What makes Aidan Board smile? “Playing music,” said the 20-year-old, a 2020 Noblesville High School graduate. He has been found previous summers performing at the Noblesville Farmers Market, which opens today, 8 a.m. to noon, for the season. Board has played drums with a band called Cabbage “like the vegetable,” with then NHS juniors Drew Matthews on guitar and Jay Thornbury on bass. He likes watching people enjoy his band. “We’re making people happy, and they’re making us happy.” Board has played in the trio of CHF and with Evans Street Quartet, which have also played at the Farmers Market. At NHS, he performed with the jazz bands, Black and Gold Band (at basketball games), stage band for school musicals, stage band The Main Event for show choir (and has played with the band since graduating, also) , and he got “called on every now and then to play drums for the orchestra.” He is the son of musician Steven Board and Julie Board and during summers he worked part time at Culver’s to earn college money. “Just saving up until I move out,” said the then college freshman, who in 2020 was studying online English Education at Ivy Tech but was to transfer his credits to Ball State University. Today’s feature is a look back at one of The Times’ previous Faces of Hamilton County. Board’s mom and grandma like to go watch him perform. “I’ve been playing drums since I was in third grade,” said Aidan, who also plays guitar. Favorite genre? “I really love playing jazz music.” He draws inspiration from NHS jazz director Bethany Robinson. “She’s done a great job of really nurturing our love of jazz and love of playing music.”