VanGilder (Courtesy photo)
Arkansas City High School Band Director Chris VanGilder has been named one of School Band & Orchestra magazine’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” for the state of Kansas, USD 470 Public Relations Director Alisha Call informed KSOK-NewsCow Tuesday.
According to the magazine, making it through the nomination process isn’t easy:
Now over two decades old, School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” report continues to shine a light on outstanding music educators from each of these United States.
Again, SBO painstakingly reviewed hundreds of nominations. This is the most fun we have every year, and also the very hardest issue to produce.
Music is very special to people. Directors were nominated by students both former and current colleagues, musical instrument retailers, band parents, administrators, friends, former band directors, who might have even taught them, and sometimes a spouse of a director who admires the hard work and dedication their other half gives to their school music programs.
The nomination stories submitted are moving, heartfelt, and often very personal pleas from the nominator to recognize their director for the work they do. We wish we could do an issue and just honor all the people submitted at once. Our final selections have been made, but it was not easy. Nominees not chosen this year will be held over into next year’s submissions for consideration again.
VanGilder, who has been teaching for 29 years, had this answer when asked by the publication his proudest moment as an educator:
“Performances around the country, awards and ratings are all great,” he stated, “but for me the proudest moments come from seeing former students being successful. And when those former students come back to see me or send me messages saying things like: ‘Thank you for teaching me discipline’ or ‘Thank you for teaching me to be a leader’ or even ‘Thank you for teaching me what it means to be on time,’ then I know that my message is getting across.”
VanGilder said for him, it’s teaching the little — but key — responsibilities in life that are important.
“I hope, through their experiences in band, students will learn skills that will serve them well in all walks of life,” he told the magazine. “Things like responsibility, punctuality, manners, communicating, discipline, work ethic and being part of something bigger than themselves. In addition, I hope they develop a love for music so that even if they don’t continue to play, they will support live music for the rest of their lives.”
