He’s recorded a CD, plays more than six different instruments, performs at concerts most weekends and makes up to $50 an hour. He’s a professional musician, but he’s also a high school student.

Luis Murillo is a sophomore at De Soto High School who is mostly known for his outstanding abilities as a runner. He is a two-time State cross country runner, finishing first at the 4A boys regional meet last fall as well as making it to State last year for track. He runs almost every day year round, usually between 7-8 miles.

However, he also plays professionally in bands with his dad, playing shows mostly around Kansas but sometimes as far as Nebraska and Texas. Murillo plays a wide variety of instruments and anyone who’s seen him play can tell he’s mastered them all.

“Luis Murillo is one of the most talented band students I have had the pleasure to work with,” Rob Foster, band director at Lexington Trails Middle School and taught Murillo for three years, said. “He started as an exceptional clarinet and then picked up the trumpet. For several years at LT, he was my ‘go to soloist’ in jazz band. A solid musician, hard worker and a great all around kid.”

The list of instruments that he plays includes: clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, percussion, sousaphone (marching tuba) and accordion as well as singing on occasion.

When asked which one of these instruments is his favorite to play Murillo responded, “Percussion, it’s the most fun.”

He says that the frequency of the shows that he plays and the amount of money earned at each performance all varies.

“Usually it’s pretty slow in the winters, but in the summers it pretty much every weekend,” Murillo said.

According to him the amount of money he makes ranges from $30 to $50 an hour, while the lengths of the shows are around four to five hours. Do the math and that’s around $120 to $250 each performance.

Murillo and his dad have played in six different bands and even recorded a CD, although this life is not without its challenges.

“Sometimes it is hard with school and playing,” Murillo says, “Sometimes getting back from gigs at 3 in morning on a Monday and then going to school is hard.”

Balancing school, music and running is challenging but he says it’s up in the air which one of these activities is his favorite.

“It changes day to day,” Murillo said. “Some days running is the best, and some days it’s not.”

“I think that Luis does a good job of balancing running and music,” said Chris McAfee, DHS head cross country and track coach “He does a good job communicating it to me when he will be gone for his band. I know that’s what he loves.”

Murillo is an exceptional student who is multi-dimensional not only excelling in a sport and succeeding at the highest level of competition but also having a professional career as an exceptional musician.