Student News for Horizon Honors Secondary School

The Horizon Sun

Student News for Horizon Honors Secondary School

The Horizon Sun

Student News for Horizon Honors Secondary School

The Horizon Sun

Noah Thompson

Noah Thompson, Columnist

Noah Thompson is an eighth grader at Horizon Honors, and is a columnist for The Horizon Sun. Thompson’s interests include video editing, 2D animation, music theory, music composition, playing music, calligraphy, and spending time with family. Although Thompson has lived in Arizona his whole life, he loves to travel abroad. His favorite trips have been visiting England, The Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Iceland, and Puerto Rico. This is his first year in journalism, and his sixth year at Horizon Honors. Thompson loves to write and enjoys researching interesting topics. He likes reading fiction, especially mythological fiction. Thompson also enjoys reading and swimming. Thompson spends a large portion of his free time playing the oboe and practicing with the Phoenix Youth Symphony’s Wind Orchestra. Thompson has four older sisters and three nephews. On top of that, Thompson has three dogs, and enjoys spending time with them. Thompson also has two older step-brothers. Though half of his family lives in Kansas, Thompson is about 45% British, and also has three distant cousins in England. Thompson's favorite vacation spot is Dover, England. He is excited to be writing for The Horizon Sun this year.

All content by Noah Thompson
Atomic Clocks

Atomic Clocks

Noah Thompson, Columnist
June 9, 2021
Carmen is a beautiful opera with several memorable pieces.

An Overview of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen”

Opera is often stereotyped and dismissed as boring and annoyingly high pitched by the younger generations. However, operas that were written in the Romantic or post-Romantic Eras, such as Bizet’s “Carmen,” are very different from those of previous eras by composers like Gluck or Mozart.
Noah Thompson, Columnist
June 9, 2021
The Menuhin Competition is a major event in the violin world.

A Recap of the 2021 Menuhin Competition in Richmond, Virginia

The stereotypical image of the child prodigy violinist is vivid in many people’s minds, but few understand the true extent of virtuosity some of these children possess at such a young age. Their performances at the Menuhin Competition rival that of adult professional violinists around the world.
Noah Thompson, Columnist
June 8, 2021
Oxford Comma Controversy

Oxford Comma Controversy

Noah Thompson, Columnist
April 27, 2021
The study of history has a long history itself.

The History of History

We are required to learn about history in school. But have you ever wondered how humans came to start seeking this information and when we started teaching history?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
April 23, 2021
Horizon Sun Art Contest

Horizon Sun Art Contest

Noah Thompson, Columnist
April 12, 2021
Eddy Chen performing Paganini Caprice No. 24 while hula hooping.

TwoSet Violin: Bringing the World of Classical Music to a Younger Generation

Brett Yang and Eddy Chen are two professional violinists who created the popular YouTube channel TwoSet Violin. They make comedic skits and review modern media that uses classical music, whether it be shows, movies, ads, or even apps.
Noah Thompson, Columnist
March 19, 2021
Notation on sheet music goes back to the time of ancient Greeks.

The History of Music Notation

Most music that is performed today is from the 1600s or later. But it is a well known fact that humans have been creating music for much longer. How did composers indicate what notes, rhythms, and styles to perform the piece in before modern notation? And how did this evolve into the modern notation and music theory?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
March 3, 2021
An image of MuseScore 3.6.

Making Great Music for a Great Price

The tools and virtual instruments used in professional music creation can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. How can you make your own music without having to pay all that money?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
February 17, 2021
Instant cameras are a fascinating device.

How Do Instant Cameras Work?

What is an instant camera? Simply stated, it is a camera that will give you a hard copy of a photo you took without having to download files, take it to a printer, or any of that hassle. But how does it work?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
February 2, 2021
Even though it feels like 2021 just started, there are several new laws which have gone into effect this year.

New Arizona Laws as of January 2021

As of Jan. 1, 2021, Arizona seems to have taken on a new year’s resolution of its own with some of these new laws. One of the biggest new laws is that now you can be fined for using your phone while driving state-wide.
Noah Thompson, Columnist
January 22, 2021
IMG_0385-removebg-preview

Gratitude

Noah Thompson, Columnist
December 4, 2020
One of the many simple yet beautiful Mac backgrounds, one of many features which puts them aesthetically ahead of Windows.

Mac Rules, Windows Aesthetically Drools

The debate about if Mac or Windows is better has been around for years, if not, decades. From an aesthetic and user interface perspective, Mac clearly takes the win.
Noah Thompson, Columnist
December 18, 2020
There are many types of sugars which go deeper than your ordinary cane.

What’s the Sweet Stuff Made of?

Almost everything we eat has sugar. Some things have one of the specific sugar molecules and some have things that break down into sugar while you digest them. But not all sugar is created equal. So, what are the different types of sugar molecules that we eat, and what's the difference between them?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
December 14, 2020
A grand majority of those surveyed believe that the newest iPhone is a waste of money.

What Do People Think About the New iPhones?

When the first iPhone was introduced, it was revolutionary. The touchscreen was something that was previously never used and was like science fiction had come to life. But, 28 versions later, what do people think about the new iPhones?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
December 7, 2020
The strings deserve a place at Horizon Honors too.

Should There be a Horizon Honors Orchestra?

Horizon Honors has a fairly successful band program. But winds and percussion are not for everyone. Some students may be more interested in the string family, so why not have an orchestra?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
November 20, 2020
Peppermint is an iconic wintertime candy.

Why Does Peppermint Give the Illusion That Your Mouth is Cold?

Peppermint is one of the most iconic symbols of the holiday season. The most unusual thing about peppermint is that it gives the illusion that your mouth’s temperature has dropped to freezing lows. But why does this happen?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
November 16, 2020
What do Students Think About the Three Lunch Shifts?

What do Students Think About the Three Lunch Shifts?

Horizon Honors has had students eat lunch in three different shifts. While this is necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, what do students think?
Noah Thompson, Columnist
November 5, 2020
Load More Stories