'Our Story' covers many chapters of man's life
By John Martin (Contact)
Friday, May 9, 2008
Richard Sprinkle said it felt good to pick up the conductor's baton again.
Richard Sprinkle
STORY TOOLS
The Hebron Elementary School principal, who is retiring after 42 years
with the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp., stood on a small platform
Thursday surrounded by 2.000 student musicians and conducted the finale
of "This Is Our Story."
It was the 74th year of EVSC's annual instrumental music celebration.
Sprinkle has participated for a remarkable 51 years as either a
student, teacher or conductor.
"When they called and asked me to do this tonight, I wouldn't have said
no," a smiling Sprinkle said after he conducted middle and high school
performers in "Hymns of all Faiths," "God of Our Fathers" and "Land of
Hope and Glory."
Sprinkle has been Hebron's principal since 2001, but he spent about 30 years of his career teaching music at several schools.
Sprinkle didn't quit music when he went into administration, though. He
and his wife, Barbara, direct the choir at St. Peter's United Church of
Christ.
And he still gives lessons on brass instruments to several appreciative
young people, such as Reitz High School senior Steve Waltz.
"He teaches everything about music," said Waltz, a trombone player.
"And not only that, but he's so accommodating," juggling lessons around
Waltz's many other activities. "He lets me lead my life."
Brian Bell, a Reitz sophomore who plays the tuba, said Sprinkle is "like a grandpa. He's taught me all I know about music."
Sprinkle signed copies of Thursday night's program for several current
and former students, including a father-son tandem he tutored: Michael
Welden, who learned from Sprinkle in the 1960s, and Welden's son Jared,
a Reitz senior.
Understanding of the arts is important to students' overall education, Sprinkle said.
Sprinkle taught elementary school instrumental music for many years,
but EVSC has been without that program since it was cut by the School
Board six years ago for financial reasons.
Superintendent Vincent Bertram said the corporation is "working on the
concept of a fine arts academy" which would "attempt to fill in the
gaps we have in our fine arts program, and (elementary school
instrumental music) is one area where we have a deficiency."
"The arts are essential to a high-quality education," said Bertram, who
sat in a front-row seat at Roberts Stadium for Thursday's concert. "We
want to do everything we can to provide an enriching experience."
Bertram said he'd like all EVSC students to have a set of "core
experiences" during their years in school. Those include a philharmonic
concert and other arts activities.
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