Graduating seniors weren’t the only ones celebrated at the Greene County High School Awards Concert May 6. Marty Brenden, who is closing out a long career as a school music director, the last 15 years of which have been in the Jefferson-Scranton district.
For the majority of those years, Brenden was assistant director and did not conduct bands in public, meaning that he was not the one accepting applause for them. He taught individual and small group lessons, held sectionals, and played piano for hundreds of instrumentalists at the middle school and the high school. More recently he has directed the seventh and eighth grade bands. On Tuesday evening he got well-deserved applause several times.
Brenden has sung in the choir and taught the middle school religious education classes at St Joseph Catholic Church for many years, and was given the Diocesan Adult Youth Ministry Award during that time. Since the passing of Richard Carey a year ago, he has played the organ at St Columbkille in Churdan. St Joseph Parish Council president Larry Lang spoke at the concert, saying “Music is not what he does. It’s who he is.”
The last four years Brenden has volunteered with the choir at Central Christian Church in Jefferson as well, even recording accompaniments for use when he couldn’t be there. Pastor Deb Griffin thanked him and invited everyone to a reception for him Sunday, May 18, following the 10:30 am worship service at the church.
School superintendent Tim Christensen (left) spoke of Brenden’s professionalism, hard work and dedication. He called Brenden (right) “the most professional teacher I’ve ever worked with.” He told how Brenden “pitched” him on having summer music lessons for students a few years ago when the district’s budget was particularly tight. The only pay Brenden requested was an air conditioned room for the lessons. Students have continued to have summer music lessons at no cost since then, with air conditioning.
Brenden’s fellow music teachers hosted a surprise reception for him in the school cafeteria following the concert. Special guests were his sisters and brother-in-law from Rolla in south central Missouri. Brenden plans to move there soon after his retirement.
The other directors had comments about Brenden following the reception. Band director Becky Greiner explained their working relationship. “Our teamwork developed over time and there was never any guarded comments toward each others ensembles. When a section is playing poorly, we don’t mince words with each other. We tell each other how it sounds to us and make suggestions on how to fix it. When an individual student or a section of the band was struggling with a rhythm or notes, I would often say to him, ‘Would you please take them out of rehearsal and work some of your magic with them?’ They always returned a better player…. Of course, his piano skills will be missed as well. He accompanied every top notch student that we had,” she said.
According to choir director Dave Heupel, “He is so good at thinking clearly and not letting a potentially emotional situation get the best of him. That is something at which he has taught me to improve.”
Sue Turner has worked with him as a beginning instrumental music teacher. “Marty is easy-going, quick-witted, and a joy to work with. I love how he always seems to make even the most dry tasks much more fun! He has taught me patience and kept me in stitches. He is so generous and willing to help out whenever he can. I’m sure he has many, many stories to tell, and hopefully, he will write a book,” she said. “I am extremely proud to have gotten to work with such an inspiring and gifted man, and so glad to be able to count him among my friends! He will be missed by our community!”
Brenden greeted all those who stayed for the post concert reception, including Tom Kinnan, who is unofficially every student’s designated attendee at music and athletic events. Kinnan never misses an opportunity to support the young people of Greene County. He, like Brenden, doesn’t get thanked often enough for what he does.
