Lake Highlands High School Band Director Marion West received an unusual phone call several months ago.

“This is a really strange request,” Jeanne Reinkemeyer told West, “but all my three-year-old son wants for his birthday is a marching band.”

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And that’s how Alex Reinkemeyer, a zealous music fan at the tender age of three, received the LHHS marching band for his birthday: The band performed for Alex on a chilly Thursday morning last month, as Alex peeked over the band director’s tower and watched his dream unfold.

Alex couldn’t take his eyes off the band, Jeanne says. “He was so focused on it.”

As soon as the performance was over, Alex immediately asked if they could come back to hear the 130-member band again, Jeanne says.

Alex usually catches a glimpse of the band every day on the way to his school, White Rock North School, 9727 White Rock Trail, but he couldn’t get enough of the action peering from the back seat of a moving car, Jeanne says.

Time will only tell if Alex is headed for musical fame, but his parents aren’t rock stars. Neither of them even play an instrument, Jeanne says

When Alex first told them what he wanted for his birthday, both parents tried to suggest more common gift ideas to Alex, such as toys, says Jeanne, but he was adamant about the band.

“So I just got a wild hair one day and called the band director and tried to convince her that I wasn’t nuts,” Jeanne says.

Not only did the band play for Alex, but he also received a “Happy Birthday” trumpet solo from one of the band members, a marching band T-shirt with his name pasted on the back, and a drumstick signed by all of the drummers, Jeanne says.

Alex’s parents had a ball giving Alex what he wanted for his birthday, Jeanne says, but they’re a little concerned about future birthday wishes.

“Well, I hope he doesn’t want Emmitt Smith next year,” jokes his father, Phil.