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Garner High band teacher resigns, pursues graduate degree

By Susie Potter
Editorial Intern

After four years of serving Garner Magnet High School as band director and chair of the Fine Arts Department, Jon Caldwell has left the school to pursue his Master of Music in instrumental conducting at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Jon Caldwell

Eventually, Caldwell hopes to get his Doctorate of Musical Arts and conduct a wind ensemble at the college level.

Despite the promising future that lies ahead of him, Caldwell is sad to leave GMHS.

“The band program at Garner is a family, and we do everything together,” he said. “We sweat, bleed, cry and laugh together. That’s what has made this decision that much more difficult.”

An artist and a teacher

Caldwell hails from Waynesville, N.C., but said Garner is the place he calls home. “Garner is truly a great place to be, and I would love to come back. [It's] a special community, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Caldwell did not initally plan on becoming a music teacher. In fact, he started college as a mathematical science major. After a few mathematics courses at UNC-Chapel Hill, however, Caldwell realized how much he loved music and ended up graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Music in horn performance.

“I didn’t even think about teaching until just before my senior year,” Caldwell said. He ended up taking music education classes and graduating with a Master of Arts in teaching in 2005.

Shortly after completing his degree, Caldwell was hired by GMHS.

“All I ever wanted to do was be a musician,” he said. “I have always thought of myself as an artist first. Part of the responsibility of being an artist, however, is to be a teacher, so it seemed like a logical choice.”

A teacher’s memories

In Caldwell’s four years at GMHS, the band won numerous awards and created many memories together.

“I don’t know what I’m going to miss the most,” Caldwell said. “Friday night football games with the whole town there, competetions and kids going wild at the feeling of success, concerts with standing ovations – they’re all incredible memories.

“I think what I’ll miss the most though is the 10 minutes right before we stepped on the field for a marching band competetion. You can’t receate that moment of complete excitement and anticipation.”

The band students will also hold fond memories of Caldw

ell – particularly of the time he shaved his hair into a Mohawk.

“I bet the kids that I would cut my hair into a Mohawk if we scored above an 80 [at the Havelock High School competition in November] and dye it blond if we scored above an 85. A week later, I had a bleached-blond Mohawk. It was a happy moment,” Caldwell said.

Music runs deep

Caldwell is grateful for the close-knit Fine Arts Department at GMHS and the contribtuions of the numerous band sponsors and football fans. His heart, however, is with his students.

“Our students are incredible. They are so hardworking and dedicated. I have never won an award for being a teacher, and that’s the way I want it,” he said. “The band program at Garner never was and never will be about me. It’s about students, parents and the community coming together to support the arts and the important role that the arts play in the human experience.”

The Garner Magnet High School band won the following awards for the 2008-2009 school year:

Havelock Competition Class 3A Results

• 1st Place Overall
• 1st Place Music
• 1st Place General Effect
• 1st Place Percussion
• 2nd Place Colorguard
• 2nd Place Visual Performance
• 1st Place Drum Major
• 1st Superior on NCBA sheets
• Highest overall score in four years (87.45)

Clayton Competition Class 2A Results:

• 2nd Place Overall
• 2nd Place Music
• 2nd Place General Effect
• 2nd Place Percussion
• 2nd Place Colorguard
• 3rd Place Visual Performance

West Johnston Competition Class 2A Results:

• 1st Place Overall
• 1st Place Music Performance
• 1st Place General Effect
• 1st Place Visual Performance
• 1st Place Drum Major
• 1st Place Percussion
• 1st Place Colorguard

Fuquay Competition Class 1A Results:

• 3rd Place Overall
• 2nd Place Music Performance
• 3rd Place General Effect
• 2nd Place Visual Performance
• 1st Place Colorguard

Related articles:

• Garner High bands hold open house, seek support

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