Collinsville educator gets another chance to conduct
Published in the 9/14/10 issue of the Suburban Journals
Collinsville educator gets another chance to conduct
Retired music teacher to lead band in November
Bruce Hawkins said he got the best going away present imaginable for a music teacher when he retired from Collinsville schools last year: A published piece of music dedicated to his years of service.
“It is one of the most thrilling, memorable things anyone has done for me, and I’ve had a lot of thrilling moments in my 35 years,” said Hawkins, who led the middle school band for two decades.
Hawkins is now scheduled to conduct a band performing the piece, called “Fanfare and Triumph,” at the Illinois Music Educator Association annual conference in November. He’s been asked to serve as guest conductor during the event in Peoria.
Composer James Swearingen, who has written hundreds of songs for school concert bands, inked the piece after being approached by band parents who wanted to honor Hawkins.
“I tried to write a piece reflecting the joy his students and band parents have experienced,” Swearingen said. “It is a celebratory piece reflecting on the wonderful career of Bruce Hawkins, a career that shows his dedication to his students.”
The tune is written for beginning musicians. The first page of the sheet music says the work is dedicated the Hawkins “for his devotion to the band students and (to) the impact he has made in their lives.”
The Collinsville Middle School band performed the song last year – the last time Hawkins conducted the band before his retirement.
“Every teacher needs to experience what I got to experience with my students and band parents,” Hawkins said.
The November concert will feature students from across the state. Hawkins said he’s excited about conducting again.
“The most enjoyable experience is to see a kid develop,” Hawkins said. “As a band director, I was the only one that was going to be teaching them band skills and I had some very strong bands.”
The band students and parents offered years of support to foster the growth of music in the district, Hawkins said, which is why he intends to have his former students sign his personal copy of “Fanfare and Triumph.”
“It’s not so much what they did for me but that they thought that much of me to do this,” Hawkins said.
– Shannon Philpott
September 21, 2010 - Posted by sphilpott | News Stories, Newspaper Writing, Sample Work | Bruce Hawkins, Collinsville Middle School, Collinsville Unit 10, Illinois Music Educator Association, music education, Suburban Journals
No comments yet.
About Me
Three words to describe me? Passionate. Motivated. Curious. These traits help me as a college media adviser and professor, freelance writer, author and mom. From student journalism and higher education to parenting and freelance writing, this site, focused on writing, reflecting and teaching, offers a mix of blogs with a hint of humor, sarcasm, and inspiration, as well as my published stories on just about every possible topic.
Feel free to browse my sample works including feature news, magazine, and web copywriting pieces from the past and present. You can also pick up my new book “Screen-Free Fun: 400 Activities for the Whole Family” now available. Check back often for daily updates, blog entries, and additional stories. Feel free to contact me directly at shphilpott@gmail.com, follow me on Twitter, or grab tips for Screen-Free Fun on our Facebook page. Comments are welcome!
Categories/Sample Work
Top Posts
-
Recent Posts
Archives
Search Blogs
-
Join 113 other subscribers
Twitter Feed
- Coming in at #4 for the '25 Best Gifts for Kids Under $25' is #ScreenFree Fun! #parenting #ChristmasIsComing… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… ** 3 years ago
- Just a few days left to participate in this #screenfree #giveaway. Don't miss out! facebook.com/screenfreefunb…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… ** 3 years ago
- IT'S #BACKTOSCHOOL #GIVEAWAY TIME! If you want to win a copy of Screen-Free Fun for yourself and for your favorite… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… ** 3 years ago
Leave a Reply