Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

Congratulations to John Barrett

Congratulations to John Barrett, Band Director at Licking Valley HS (OH), and wife Emily, on the birth of their son, Levi Dominick. He was born at 12:08 AM on March 25th and was 7.1 pounds and 19.75 inches long.

Posted on March 26, 2021

Congratulations to Heather Marsh

Congratulations to Heather Marsh, Band Director at Arcanum HS (OH), who was named the Arcanum-Butler District Teacher of the Year on Monday, and engaged to Ed Myers.

Posted on March 26, 2021

Bob Mecozzi Welcomes a Daughter

Bob Mecozzi, Band Director at A. A. Stagg High School (IL), and his wife, welcomed a daughter, Cecelia Grace, on 4/27/20.

Posted on May 8, 2020

Congratulations to Karen Garrett

Congratulations to Karen Garrett, Choir Director at Santiago High School, Corona, CA, who has been named the Choral Educator of the Year for directors with 10+ years of teaching by the California Choral Directors Association.

Posted on February 15, 2020

Mary Theresa Reed Retires

Mary Theresa Reed Choir Director at Evanston High School will retire at end of the 2020 school year.

Posted on February 15, 2019

Congratulations to Mike Moehlmann

Mike Moehlmann, Band Director at Niles North High School, married to Kelly from Lincoln park High School on New Year’s Eve in Chicago.

Posted on February 15, 2019

Charlie Abplanalp Retires

Charlie Abplanalp retired at end of the 2019 school year.

Posted on February 15, 2019

Congratulations to Lindsay Andrews

Congratulations to Lindsay Andrews, Choir Director at Sylvania Southview HS (OH), on the birth of her third son!

Posted on January 9, 2020

Congratulations to Jeremy Davis

Congratulations to Jeremy Davis, Choir Director at Sylvania Northview HSC (OH), and wife Anna, on the birth of their son Avi Alan Davis on December 30th!

Posted on January 9, 2020

Congratulations to Anthony Graffeo

Anthony Graffeo, Band director at Schaumburg HS, and his wife Danielle welcomed a baby boy Benjamin on December 3.

Posted on December 11, 2019

Congratulations to Lauren Staniszewski

Lauren Staniszewski, Band Director at Stoney Creek H.S., welcomed a Daughter, Teresa, on August 7, 2019.

Posted on September 19, 2019

Congratulations to Chris Dollar

Chris Dollar, Teacher at Fisher Island Schools, welcomed a son Preston, on August 27, 2019.

Posted on September 19, 2019

Congratulations to Chris Mroczek

Congratulations to Chris Mroczek, Band Director at Lincoln Way Central H.S., and his wife Tiffany on the birth of their, son Everett Alexander, on Aug. 22.

Posted on August 28, 2019

Congratulations to Timothy Hassall

Congratulations to Timothy Hassall, Associate Director of Bands at Belleville East H.S., and Kati Melton Dance Team Coach at Belleville East H.S., who got married on June 15, 2020.

Posted on August 28, 2019

Congratulations to Kyle Schuckmann

Congratulations to Kyle Schuckmann, Band Director at Carlisle HS (OH), on his marriage to Emily on April 19, 2019!

Posted on July 24, 2019

Congratulations to Hannah Wolf

Congratulations to Hannah Wolf, Band Director at Crestview HS (OH), who got married this summer!

Posted on July 24, 2019

Ben McCartney Welcomes a Daughter

Ben McCartney, band director at Knoxville H.S. (IA), and his wife Chloe welcomed a daughter, Emery Kathleen McCartney, on July 1st at 7:49am weighing 8lbs and measuring 19 inches long.

Posted on July 15, 2019

Congratulations to Gerry Kreitzer

Gerry Kreitzer, Director of Music Activities at Mount Mercy University (IA), has received the National Federations Outstanding Music Educator Award. 

Posted on July 15, 2019

Natalie Bowsher Welcomes a Son

Natalie Bowsher, Choir Director at Elgin HS (OH), and her husband John, welcomed their second son, Benjamin David.  He was born on May 28th, and was 6 lbs, 12 oz., and 19’ long.

Posted on June 12, 2019

Condolances to Ed Fiscella Jr.

Ed Fiscella Sr., father of Ed Fiscella Jr., Choir Director at Mainstage Center for the Arts (NJ), passed away on June 2 at 91 yrs old. He is survived by his wife of 70 years Sarah Fiscella

Posted on June 12, 2019

Congratulations to Chris Foster

Chris Foster has accepted a new position as Director of Bands at Carey HS (NC).

Posted on June 12, 2019

Congratulations to Amy Bostwick

Congratulations to Amy Bostwick, band Director at Delta HS (OH), for being named the Educator of the Year by the Delta American Legion Post 373.

Posted on June 12, 2019

Congratulations to Dr. Myron Welch

Dr. Myron Welch, University of Iowa Emeritus Director of Bands, was presented – Honorary Lifetime Membership Award at the 2019 Iowa Bandmaster conference

Posted on June 12, 2019

Congratulations to Annette Slater

Congratulations to Annette Slater, Choir Director at Northwood HS (OH), for being named Teacher of the Year!

Posted on June 12, 2019

Cary Ruklic Welcomes a Daughter

Cary Ruklic, Band Director at Lincoln Way West HS, and his wife Christin, welcomed their 2nd child, Gianna Eve on April 9th.

Posted on June 12, 2019

Congratulations to Trey Jacobs

Congratulations to Trey Jacobs, Choir Director at the Nashville School of Performing Arts (TN), for being named one of the Country Music Association Foundation’s Music Teachers of Excellence!

Posted on June 12, 2019

Barry Houser Joins Roster of Yamaha Master Educators

Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis named Barry Houser, Band Director at the University of Illinois, to its Master Educator Program!

Posted on April 3, 2019

Congratulations to Valerie Buckley

Congratulations to Valerie Buckley, Choir Director at Kenton Ridge H.S., on being named the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s ninth annual Music Educator of the Year!

Posted on March 21, 2019

Bobby Vriezen Welcomes a Daughter

Bobby Vriezen, Band Director at Yorkville H.S., and his wife Lauren, welcomed a baby girl, Blake, on July 2, 2018.

Posted on March 13, 2019

Anna Louis Jakubka is Married

Anna Louis Jakubka, Director of Theater at Addison Trail H.S., married Kevin McSweeney on June 9, 2018.

Posted on March 13, 2019

Congratulations to Lorianne Alegria

Congratulations to Lorianne Alegria, Orchestra Director at North Port H.S., for recently purchasing a new home!

Posted on March 8, 2019

Congratulations to Lincoln-Way H.S. Band Directors

Congratulations to Cary Ruklic, Justin Barnish, Scott Baker (videographer), Chris Mrozcek, and Bert Johnson, Band Directors at Lincoln-Way H.S., on their 2018 marching band documentary premiere! They received an Oscar presentation for best documentary.

Posted on February 26, 2019

Nick Martin Welcomes a Daughter

Nick Martin, Band Director at Glenn Westlake M.S., and his wife Jess, welcomed a daughter, Avery Lynn, on February 19 at 10:10 PM. She was 7 lbs 12.5 ounces, and 21.75 inches long at birth.

Posted on February 21, 2019

Bret Lee as Band Director

Bret Lee, (retired Iowa teacher), has spent the past two years as the band director at Coronado H.S. in Scottsdale, AZ.

Posted on February 6, 2019

Drew Fredrickson Welcomes a Son

Drew Fredrickson, Band Director at Oak Park River Forest H.S., and his wife Catalina, welcomed a son, Bennett Lawrence Fredrickson, on Jan. 14th, 2019. He was 8lbs, 6oz, and 20.5 inches.

Posted on February 5, 2019

Paul Ahlemeyer Adopts a Son

Paul Ahlemeyer, Band Director at Ft. Zumwalt South H.S., and his wife recently completed the adoption of an infant son, Isaac Paul.

Posted on February 1, 2019

Vince Genualdi Hosts Workshop

Vince Genualdi of Saint Viator H.S.  hosted the first annual 2019 Remixing General Music Workshop where 40 educators attended classes and learned about emerging practices related to teaching secondary general music. 

Posted on January 31, 2019

Dan Walls is Married

Dan Walls, Choir Director at Boylan Catholic H.S., married Kate Genoways on October 6.

Posted on January 31, 2019

Congratulations to Omar Lozano

Congratulations to Omar Lozano, Choir Director at Miami East H.S., for being named the 2019 OMEA Music Educator of the year!

Posted on January 31, 2019

Welcome Back Alan MacNair

Welcome back to teaching, Alan MacNair of Troy H.S., after a brief retirement.

Posted on January 31, 2019

Best of Luck to Kevin Cort

Best of luck to Kevin Cort of South Lyon H.S. this coming summer on his mission trip to Ecuador!

Posted on January 31, 2019

Congratulations to Angel Gippert

Congratulations to Angel Gippert of Farmington H.S. on becoming the President elect of MSVMA and the Presider for many of the choral performances at MMC!

Posted on January 31, 2019

Congratulations to Andrew Hathikhanavala

Congratulations to Andrew Hathikhanavala of South Lyon H.S. on performing at the MMC with his HS Varsity Women’s Choir!

Posted on January 31, 2019

Congratulations to Matthew Smith

Congratulations to Matthew Smith of Lake Shore H.S. on performing at the MMC with his HS Women’s Chamber Choir!

Posted on January 31, 2019

Congratulations to Kendra Felando

Congratulations to Kendra Felando on her new orchestra position at Druid Hills M.S.!

Posted on January 29, 2019

Congratulations to O’Fallon Township and Libertyville

Congratulations to O’Fallon Township and Libertyville H.S. on receiving the NBA Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award!

Posted on January 23, 2019

Jonathan Busarow welcomes a Son

Jonathan Busarow, Director of the Ft. Wayne Children’s Choir, and wife Nicole, welcomed a son, Timothy Martin, on January 7th at 8:13 PM.  He was 6 lbs and 12 oz.

Posted on January 18, 2019

Marissa Narlock Welcomes a Son

Marissa Narlock, Band Director at Greenfield H.S., and her husband Casey, welcomed a son, Wallace (Wally) Narlock into their family on July 10, 2018. He was 7lbs 2 oz, and 19.5 inches at birth.

Posted on November 12, 2019

Justin Olson Welcomes a Daughter

Justin Olson, Band Director at Shorewood Intermediate School, and his wife Liz, welcomed a daughter, Ele Elizabeth Olson, to their family in October. She was 6lbs, 14 oz, and 20 inches long at birth.

Posted on November 12, 2019

Reid Ladew Welcomes a Son

Reid Ladew, Band Director at Watertown H.S., and his wife Jackie welcomed their 3rd child and 1st son, Emmett, on July 24.

Posted on October 22, 2019

Bethany Meyer Welcomes a Daughter

Bethany Meyer, Choir Director at Oshkosh West H.S., welcomed a daughter, Melina Leigh, on October 19th, weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz., and measuring 21 in.

Posted on October 22, 2019

 

Raeleen Horn inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame

Raeleen Horn, former Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at Palatine H.S.(1980-2013), was inducted into Palatine High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Posted on October 23, 2019

 

The personal touches that BRT provides. Your company gets to know the people they work with. I have never felt like a "number" with BRT.

Leslie Schmidt
Columbia Central Junior High School
Class Trip, DC Tour

 

I appreciated the flexibility Bob Rogers showed us with the billing and various payments we had to make. We thought we were adding more and ended up not but you were great about giving us extra time to work out what we needed to on our end.

Loraine Wistrom
Plum Grove Junior High School
Band, Chicago Tour

 

BRT is always on top of all details. Even when something has slipped through the cracks, changed, or something unexpected comes up, BRT is flexible enough to make the changes needed to make everything right. We have always been so well taken care of and the personal attention is what makes your company special.

Dameon Place
Pella Community High School
Band, Orlando Tour

 

This was my 5th trip with Bob Rogers, and I appreciate the professionalism and also the willingness to work with me and my students to make each trip the very best it can be.

Trey Jacobs
Nashville School of the Arts
Choir, Atlanta & Tuscaloosa Tour

 

You make the process so easy - step-by-step of what needs to be done, guidance along the way, available (and quick) to respond to questions and making me feel like me and my students are your priority.

Beth Vaughn
Bowling Green High School
Choir, New York City Tour

 

The quality of service that you provided us with was second to none. The organization and communication were exceptional and we always felt we were in “the loop” on things both before and during the trip.

Bob Mecozzi
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Band, Orlando Tour

 

BRT hands down has been the absolute best travel company I have worked with in my 18 years in education. My interactions with BRT have always been so much more than just traveling from one destination to another...the focus has always been on people and providing them with experiences of a lifetime.

Barry Houser
University of Illinois
Band, Ireland Tour

 

From the scheduling, to planning, to overseeing, to leading, to customer service, everyone involved was courteous, prompt, and hospitable. Everyone did their jobs well and turned the trip experience into something better than we had anticipated.

David Dvorak
Lakewood Middle School
Band, Nashville Tour

 

Very Organized - even when problems develop. We've gone on enough trips with Bob Rogers to know how BRT operates - always first class, always prepared.

Joe Carl
Sumner High School
Band, Los Angeles Tour

 

The whole BRT team was extremely attentive, accommodating and reliable. Every detail was attended to and my stress level the entire trip was at an all-time low.

Joel Vanderheyden
Jefferson College
Band, New Orleans Tour

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