THE PASSING OF THE BATON
How many of us who attended the 2007 Midwest Clinic became a conductor, a performing artist, or a teacher of music because of a particular person in our lives—who was a role model for us—who inspired us and taught us in such a manner that we chose music as our vocation? I will take the liberty of providing a plausible answer to this question—nearly all of us.

Backstage in the Hilton ballrooms, I witness a camaraderie, a fellowship, an unspoken sense that “it’s all about the music”—among directors, performers, guest artists and guest conductors who are about to participate in a very exciting event. The additional message that resonates throughout these Midwest performance halls is this, that “music is a wonderful gift.”

Our students, at all levels, see and participate in our love of music and it eventually becomes theirs. To take it a step further, some of these students will choose music as a vocation and pass forward not only the skills we taught them but also those skills we inherited from of our mentors. I surmise that many of these students who choose music as a vocation will respond in kind.

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
On Tuesday, in the Grand Ballroom, the Highland High School Symphonic Strings (Gilbert, Arizona) took to the stage. Their director, William Bitter, had invited Dr. Richard Strange, Director of Bands Emeritus from Arizona State University and Bitter’s mentor, to guest conduct the orchestra. Backstage, Mr. Bitter talked of his fondness and admiration for his inspiring teacher. He said, “Dr. Strange was known as a demanding conductor who was pretty tough on the podium and in the classroom and that certainly bore itself out in my college experiences with him. His classes were some of the most demanding I had, and I became a better teacher and musician because of him. I have had the pleasure of becoming a colleague of Doc’s over the last twenty-seven years, and he is a regular visitor to the rehearsal rooms at Highland, sharing his wealth of knowledge and musical ‘chops’ with our bands and orchestras.”

Shortly thereafter Mr. Bitter introduced his associate director, Amy Bennett. Amy was a former student of Mr. Bitter, and her husband is the high school band director at Highland High School. It was at this point that I thought how marvelous it is to have all of these interconnections between mentor, teacher and student—the passing of the baton from generation to generation.

Mr. Bitter explained, “As anyone else in my situation will tell you, when a person comes through your program, and then becomes a teacher as part of that program, the benefits are endless. Amy already knew what I expected of my students, how I think, where the priorities are in the program, etc. … Amy’s outstanding musical skills, teacher training, ability to think outside the box, and drive to see her students succeed is why the Highland orchestra program is as successful as it is today.” Bitter added, “I am most proud that in our school district we have two high school orchestra directors and two junior high school orchestra directors who were high school students of mine years ago. I guess if you stay in any place long enough (twenty-seven years for me), you are bound to see something like this, but I like to think that I might have had something to do with it.”

On Wednesday, in the International Ballroom, The John Hersey High School Symphonic Band performed under the direction of Scott Casagrande. Scott explained that music is in his blood. “I am very proud to be a fourth generation musician and that my daughters are the fifth generation. My great grandfather was a bugler in the Italian Army.”

Scott’s father, John Casagrande, retired from George Mason University, was a guest conductor. Scott explained, “My father remains a mentor. Over the years, his influence has changed. His model is where I started as a young teacher. Over my 19-year career, I have made more decisions based on my own personality, unique situations and life choices. He helps a lot with tough decisions these days and his help with the Midwest Clinic concert preparation was vital. After my parents, James Keene (guest conductor, Director of Bands, University of Illinois) has been my most consistent, loyal and giving mentor. His inspiration and guidance have been monumental in my professional and personal life. I talk with him regularly about every aspect of our program. Gary Smith and Harry Begian are ‘heroes’ from whom I ask for guidance on a regular basis, as well.”

Mr. Casagrande went on to explain his decision to choose music as a vocation, “When I was in high school, I couldn't imagine anything other than a life in music. I wanted to perform initially, but as I spent more time in teaching experiences in college, I realized that I was energized by teaching. It just felt right. …My father used to say to me, ‘It doesn't matter to me and your mother what you do, just do it well.’ Obviously the environment helped with my decision to become a music teacher.”

Prior to Wednesday’s concert, a Hersey alumnus asked to look around the performance areas. He had played at Midwest in 1971 with the Hersey Band under the direction of Mr. Donald Caneva (the first band director at Hersey High School when it opened in the fall of 1968) and was looking forward to hearing the band that afternoon with Caneva as a guest conductor. Visiting Midwest had brought back many memories to this Hersey alumnus. The gentleman’s name was Andrew Carlson, a current member of the U.S. Navy Band tuba section. He commented, “I have come full circle from my high school concert here at Midwest and now my performance with the Navy Band this evening.”

Donald Caneva, currently the conductor of the Costal Communities Concert Band in San Diego, is himself representative of “generation to generation.” He is the 3rd generation conductor for the Caneva family.

Early Thursday morning, I entered the International Ballroom and was surprised to meet a long time friend, Ken Bartosz, currently the conductor of the Glenview (Illinois) Concert Band. He was in attendance to see his grandson, Greg Schwaegler conduct the Neuqua Valley High School Chamber Symphony. Greg’s parents, Steve and Susan Schwaegler, are both music teachers in Moline, Illinois. Here again we had three generations of music educators in one family.

Mr. Schwaegler is in his second year as a music teacher at Neuqua Valley High School and he commented on the effect his heritage has had on him as a new educator. “I am proud to honor my parents and grandfather with the work I do today. It is nice that we all have an understanding of one another when we talk about the business of teaching music and working with young people. I feel that, as I begin my career, I am standing on their shoulders. …I think it is an important point that, not only were my parents and grandfather music educators, they were very good music educators. I spent four years watching my father work in rehearsal. That’s four years of exemplary music teaching. After that many hours of observation, I had a good feel for what a high school band rehearsal was supposed to be about. …Tough days in my first year of teaching often made me ask the question, ‘If I wasn't doing this, what would I do?’ Nothing, however, could possibly be as fulfilling for me as a career in music. It is my outlet for creativity, my chance to be a leader, and my chance to continue to expand my knowledge of music.”

Saturday morning, the finale concert of Midwest featured the Michigan State University Wind Symphony under the direction of Kevin Sedatole. Richard Crain, Midwest Clinic Vice-President, served as master of ceremonies and John Whitwell, Director of Bands Emeritus from Michigan State and a member of the Midwest Board, was a guest conductor. “Kevin Sedatole was a first trumpet player in the Spring High School Band under my direction, when we performed at the 1980 Midwest Clinic,” said Crain. “We were able to perform in the Grand Ballroom and Kevin was a part of an antiphonal brass group that played in the balcony for our finale number.”

Mr. Crain went on to explain, “The Pioneer High School Band, Ann Arbor, Michigan, John Whitwell director, also performed at this same Midwest in 1980. …Later, John Whitwell moved to Texas, to be the director at Stephen F. Austin University. Kevin Sedatole was there for a period as assistant director. John Whitwell then moved to Michigan State University where he served for many years as the Director of Bands. Last year, Dr. Sedatole was selected as the new Director of Bands at MSU replacing John Whitwell who had just retired. So it was a great honor to have been able to serve as the master of ceremonies for the MSU Symphonic Winds concert.”

FINAL THOUGHTS
Isn’t it remarkable that we are all members of a vocation that we love enough to encourage and inspire our students and even family members to pursue— to pass the baton to future generations? There was a common thread among all the directors that I interviewed—the obligation to share the music with others, to honor those mentors that they revere so strongly and to “pass it forward.” John Paynter, one of my role models, once said, “I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to be a musician.” We educators through our work with students via our words, thoughts and deeds, demonstrate that we share his viewpoint.




Dennis Montgomery is a private brass instructor, Vice Chair of the Northshore Concert Band, and Stage Manager at the Midwest Clinic.