#mr. mosher

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The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

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Thank You Mr. Mosher (A Concert Tribute)

High school wouldn't have been as memorable as it was if it weren't for a certain teacher.  That teacher was Daniel Mosher, and he was my instrumental music director.  For four years, his classes were among the best of them all, and without band, I don't know how much of a fan I would be of other types of music.

And so comes last night, when I was among 100 alumni to say thank you and goodbye to Mr. Mosher, who will be retiring from teaching at the end of this school year.  He has been a teacher for 33 years, 18 of those spent in Carthage.  Local newspaper writer Jennie Busch and alumna Elizabeth Sligar ('06) decided to do something - to give him a great send-off, and with as many former and current students as possible.

Megan Cross ('04) stepped in to conduct the band, and who better to do so - after graduating from Carthage and college, she went to become a band teacher in Copenhagen.  She would conduct the band through one of Mr. Mosher's favorites, theMuppet Movietheme "The Rainbow Connection."  At the day of rehearsal, she also brought in a new arrangement of the traditional "Londonderry Air" - an arrangement she finished on Tuesday night.  After more than three hours of practice and rehearsals, the performance was on - following the Senior Vocal Recital, which was scheduled for that night.

After the recital, Carthage director of fine arts Richard Weber delivered the speech that officially segued to the surprise.  When he finished, I hit my old drumsticks 4 times to lead the percussion into a march cadence - as the rest of the band filtered in from all over the auditorium.  We played the two songs, and Megan then invited Mr. Mosher to conduct the last song, a repeat of "The Rainbow Connection."  It went through smoothly, and the audience loved it all.  He said the students got him good, that he never saw it coming.

After the concert and at the follow-up reception, the students were able to tell Mr. Mosher how much he truly changed their lives.  I was able to do the same - I told him if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have gained an appreciation of jazz and other styles of music.  I also told him one thing that was, is and will always be true: "Of all the teachers I've ever had in my life, you were always the best one."  To say he was moved by that statement would be an understatement. 

Mr. Mosher was thrilled by the whole experience, to see so many students he had taught for so long return for one night only - to give him the kind of send-off a great teacher, a champion of the arts, and one of the most important people in my life certainly deserved.  He got that and then some, and I was so fortunate to return to Carthage for one final show. 

If you somehow see this, Mr. Mosher, thank you for everything you have done for me and so many other students in your 33 years of teaching.  Last night was the proof in how you became more than just a great teacher.  You helped make us better musicians, and better people.  That's what a great teacher does, and you certainly will always be that.