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!
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.
Anna Louis Jakubka is Married
Anna Louis Jakubka, Director of Theater at Addison Trail H.S., married Kevin McSweeney on June 9, 2018.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dan Walls is Married
Dan Walls, Choir Director at Boylan Catholic H.S., married Kate Genoways on October 6.
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.
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!
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!
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!
Congratulations to Kendra Felando
Congratulations to Kendra Felando on her new orchestra position at Druid Hills M.S.!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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