For Port Townsend High School senior Elijah Hill, music has been the driving passion of his life for at least the past five of his 18 years.

The self-taught, college-bound composer, vocalist and player of five different instruments has undertaken a senior project that’s no less ambitious, as he prepares to lead a 12-member community band through four nights of concerts at the PTHS auditorium in April.

Hill noted that the school’s culminating senior projects require students to take the initiative for coordinated efforts that align with either potential future careers or broader community service.

“This is my magnum opus,” Hill said, adding that his band was made possible through the close friendships and other connections he’s made with fellow area musicians, including the Port Townsend Summer Band and Symphony Orchestra. “I wanted to share my passion. And it’s been a fantastic learning experience.”

Hill hatched the idea for his senior project in the early fall of last year, and by March 14, he estimated some 112 hours had been committed to it. Often he worked as many as seven hours in a single day, which broke his personal record for longest continuous stretches of time devoted to his pursuit of music. He said he expects it might break the school senior project’s time-invested record, as well.

Hill admitted that he’s always seen himself as more of a musical theorist than a musical performer, so he credited the experience with improving his skills at arranging songs and ensembles, with close to a dozen different tunes slated for performance.

Hill elaborated that his players will be performing popular songs — such as “Let It Be,” “Stand By Me,” “Dancing Queen” and “Africa” — as well as somewhere between three and four original compositions. Genres include pop, rock, R&B, jazz, classical and “even some Baroque.”

He enthusiastically added that “I've personally notated every single note of every song we're playing — transcription is one of my strongest skills — and I sincerely pour my heart into this ensemble, because I want us to have fun rehearsals and play music that is actually touching.”

Hill expressed pride in both himself and his players, citing the “vitality” he’s been able to help bring out in their performances, which span the spectrum from “massive” loud moments to quiet moments “as gentle as raindrops.” He noted the teamwork that helped create an almost tangible emotional energy within the music.

“We’ve had an incredible time together, playing, laughing, smiling, hugging and building relationships,” Hill said. “It’s been challenging to create a sound that we hope audiences find immersive, but we’ve also been very lighthearted while we’re doing it, and it really has added a lot to my life.”

In addition to the “coalition of musical strengths” represented by his players, Hill extended credit to his stage crew, who will number “four or greater” during the concerts, and whose “unexpectedly goofy” jobs will involve employing tools including bubbles, balloons, a fog

machine, lighting and a “massive heap” of egg cartons (“more than 40”) for the original composition “Egg Song,” as well as a floor lamp, refrigerator and flowerpot, plus outfit changes and a backup choir.

“My ambition is an insatiable vortex, and not a lot has been escaping its scope,” said Hill, who’s looking at schools such as Chapman and New York universities for their liberal arts education and music composition programs.

“I hope this concert might allow others to see a little bit of the inside of my head.”

After five months of rehearsals, the PTHS auditorium will present the concerts by Hill and his band for free at 6 p.m. on the Saturdays of April 13 and 20, and on Sunday, April 21, as well as at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.

For more information visit the website for the “Elijah H. Senior Project Band” at www.bit.ly/seniorprojectband online.