Editor's Note: Four music educators joined the Traverse City Area Public School District programs this fall, bringing a youth and vitality to programs recognized around the state. Central High School welcomed a new band director, Jake Brumbaugh, and a new choral director in Tami Grove. Cress Smith joined Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools, where most music programs are administered by TCAPS, as the new band director. Allison Brzezinski is serving as an elementary music teacher and beginning string teacher at the elementary level. With a significant portion of students at these schools involved in music and the often public nature of the programs, the Grand Traverse Herald decided to introduce the newcomers to the community.
n Jake Brumbaugh
Going baton to baton with his mother in a friendly
rivalry that is more a collaboration, Jake Brumbaugh took over as band director for Central High School this fall. His mother, Pat Brumbaugh — "Ms. Brumbaugh" to her son during working hours — leads the acclaimed West High School band program.
Determined to revitalize Central's marching and band programs, Jake Brumbaugh jumped into the school year in August when band camp began and has not slowed down since. A 2005 graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in music, emphasis on instrument education, Brumbaugh will guide Central's marching, concert and symphonic bands. He also hopes to start a jazz band at the school.
"The job is as comprehensive and widespread as they come," said Brumbaugh. "It's not just having kids play notes and give concerts; you go from history, math and science teacher to coach, administrator, parent and therapist at times."
Brumbaugh will also teach band classes at East Junior High and work closely with school band director, Pete Deneen. Their professional relationship actually began in 2005 when Brumbaugh student taught with Deneen. Brumbaugh envisions a team approach at the secondary level that will provide students the excitement and continuity to keep them in band through graduation.
"It's very important to network with Pete and the other elementary school music teachers," said Brumbaugh. "The music department in this district operates at a level that is so high above the standard for a public school music programs in the state."
Most recently, Brumbaugh worked at Interlochen Arts Academy in residence life, guiding and mentoring young artists living on campus. When the first batch of applicants for the Central High School band director's job did not fit, his mother encouraged him to throw his hat in the ring during the second round.
With a goal of 200 kids in the program within three to five years, Brumbaugh also sees the various bands he directs as part of the community.
"We'll be out and about a lot more," he said. "We'll be doing a lot more pep band stuff this year."
n Tami Grove
Living a dream come true, Tami Grove assumed duties as choral director at Central High School this fall. Jumping into intense auditions this week for the annual musical — "The Sound of Music" opens in November — while juggling teaching duties and learning on the job has made for busy but fulfilling days.
The 1999 West High School graduate is now working as a colleague to former teachers who inspired her, including Russ Larimer, choral director at West High School. She is determined to continue in the tradition of excellence already in place at Central, where students, parents, staff and the community have high expectations for the choir program.
"I always knew I wanted to come back, I just never knew it would be this soon," said Grove, who participated in choral programs since junior high and in the annual musicals all three years of high school. "It brings back a lot of memories."
Grove will direct the school's Concert Choir, Chorale, Choral-Aires, Bel Cantos and Men of Note groups. Viewing her students in the school's large and small ensembles as professionals, Grove lived the passion and dedication they bring to her classroom and the stage.
"Especially up here, for some students singing is their life," she said. "It's amazing, I could spend every minute at the school because the kids make it so worthwhile."
After completing a year at Northwestern Michigan College, Grove transferred to Michigan State University. She received a bachelor's in music education from that school in 2004 and plans to pursue a master's degree starting next summer. She served as interim choir director at a middle school in Flint and spent last year teaching sixth through 12th grade choir in Bay City.
"It's such a difference here than teaching in Bay City: they did not have the passion, singing was just another blow off class for them," she said. "I really loved having sixth through 12th grade because you do see the progression but I think it's more beneficial for students and their growth to experience more than one choir director for the whole six years."
n Cress Smith
No longer a one-woman show, Cress Smith, the new band director in the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools system, has been embraced by the community. One of her first experiences with the renowned St. Francis High School marching band was in parades at the National Cherry Festival — also her introduction to the festival.
"It was an eye-opening experience to see the streets packed and everyone cheering for the band," she said. "I was really touched by the community support of the band, and not just the St. Francis people."
Smith is also thrilled by the support she from the music boosters, where many hands helping allow her to focus on the music and students. In her former position in the Class D school district of Onekema, where she taught for eight years, she did everything from hang uniforms to filing music in addition to teaching and conducting.
"I'm really fortunate, they've made the transition smooth," Smith noted of the band parents.
Smith teaches high school band at St. Francis and conducts the 70-member marching band as well as teaches band at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Immaculate Conception schools. Being part of the larger TCAPS music department is a welcome change: there are colleagues to bounce ideas off of or ask for help.
"This is something I've been hungry for, a niche of people I can network with," Smith said.
A native of St. Johns, Smith has a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's in wind conducting, both from Michigan State University. A clarinet player, she also studied at the Aspen Music Festival. Smith also played with the Manistee Symphony Orchestra and the Manistee Concert Band until her daughter, now 2, was born and evening family time "became precious."
Guiding the marching band through mastering a tough routine this season, Smith said band members have stepped up to the challenge. She also acknowledged the student leadership in the marching band, where nearly a third of the members are seniors.
"It's a really fantastic crew of student leaders," she said. "It will be very sad when they graduate, they set the bar high."
n Allison Brzezinski
Another teacher making the jump from student to colleague is Allison Brzezinski, a new elementary music teacher in the Traverse City Area Public Schools district. A 1999 graduate of Traverse City Central High School, Brzezinski is in part assuming the duties of her sixth-grade cello teacher, Glenys Cowperthwaite, who retired last spring.
Working as part of the music department team with her long-time teacher, Ellen Boyer, orchestra director at Traverse City Central High School, is also a thrill. Brzezinski studied with Boyer six years through junior high and high school; despite being peers nowadays, her former teacher will always be "Mrs. Boyer."
"Mrs. Boyer was a huge inspiration for me, just a wonderful mentor and person," she said. "She was so encouraging and I watched what she did and said, 'I want to do that.' I had other people in college who really encouraged me but she was the start of it."
Brzezinski has a degree in music education from Central Michigan University, with an instrumental minor. She played cello with the Midland Symphony Orchestra during college and is starting her third season with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, where she relishes the intensity of preparation and performance.
Brzezinski will log many miles this school year as she serves as the full-time music teacher at Traverse Heights Elementary School at Sabin, the upper elementary music teacher at Interlochen Community School and the beginning strings teacher at Old Mission and Long Lake elementary schools.
After college, Brzezinski taught beginning strings in a district downstate. She returned to Traverse City after a stint teaching general music to preschool through 12 grade students in the Dominican Republic. She worked at Oak Park Elementary School, where she had student taught, with the latchkey program for two years until assuming her current position this summer.
"My goal is to make it a fun and open environment for the students to learn and try new things and make going to music class memorable," said Brzezinski. "I have so many wonderful resources in the department and it's such a great standard, I want to live up to what's been done before me."