Rodney Gibson

1926 - 2016

Gibson, Rodney

Rodney Gibson, director of the North High School and Wuerl Bands for over 30 years, passed away on August 18th, 2016 in Arlington, Virginia after a long illness. He was 90.

Rodney is survived by his two sons, John (Karen) of Neenah, WI, and Paul (Mary Bohman), of Arlington, VA. His wife of 58 years, Janet, preceded him in death in 2011.

Born on April 2, 1926 in Madison, WI to Ivan and Ena Gibson, Rodney attended Madison public schools. He graduated from Madison West High School (1944).

Rodney's interest in music started at an early age as he grew up listening to his father and older sister Marian draw on their talents in music. Before attending college, he became a member of the Madison Civic Symphony Orchestra and was invited to play with the University of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. While attending the University of Wisconsin summer music clinic in Madison, he applied for and was awarded a four-year scholarship to the University, where he studied music. While in college, he began his teaching career by serving as an instructor for the summer music clinic. He graduated from the UW-Madison, School of Music, in 1949. He later continued his studies part-time, subsequently earning a Master's of Arts in Music from UW-Madison.

His first professional job out of college was to teach music in Amherst and Almond, WI, from 1949 to 51. He taught in the two towns, about 20 miles apart, by holding classes in Amherst in the morning and then driving to Almond, where he taught in the afternoon. During this time he also played string bass in the Stevens Point Symphony.

Rodney started teaching in the Sheboygan Public Schools in the Fall of 1951, hired to lead the North High School Band. Over the next 34 years, he taught at North High School and also gave instruction to beginning music students at U.S. Grant and Washington Elementary Schools. In addition to the North High concert bands, he organized jazz ensembles, marching bands, Dixie bands, and pep bands for his students to participate in and learn from. He took his responsibility for educating his students seriously and challenged his students to perform difficult and memorable works, such as "1812 Overture."

From 1953 to 1985 Rodney led the Wuerl Band, a community band that performed numerous concerts every year, whether in the city parks or other venues. In his early years as conductor, he led the Wuerl Band to success in the South Milwaukee Spectacle of Music, where the band won first place for three consecutive years in competition with bands from across the region. He challenged the musicians in the band, and their audience, to be exposed to a wide variety of music, from circus marches to Shostakovich. He ensured that each concert ended with the "Stars and Stripes Forever." In addition to being a rousing conclusion to each concert, this song musically acknowledged the link that the band had to John Philip Sousa, as the band's founder, Adolph Wuerl, had played in Sousa's band. In an interview upon his retirement as conductor of the Wuerl Band, he said that "Our goal is either applause or music. No silence. It's one-and-a-half hours of non-stop music."

Rodney served as chairman of the Band Shell Steering Committee, which raised funds in Sheboygan for several years to support construction of a new performance stage in Fountain Park. Working with Bill Haack, Director of the Municipal Band, he built support and raised funds that led to the construction of the Fountain Park band shell.

In addition to his involvement in the community, Rodney served in several music education roles in the state of Wisconsin. He was an active participant in the Wisconsin Bandmaster's Association. He served as a judge of bands and individuals at music festivals and competitions around the state for many years.

In his retirement, Rodney continued to be active in music education and performance. He played in or led numerous small bands or combos playing in various venues along Florida's Gulf Coast. He was a long-time bass player with his musical partner Ruby Vincent, performing for nearly fifteen years as a part of "Ruby's Pearls." He also organized and led weekly "Jazz Jams" at the local VFW post in Bradenton, FL for over 10 years.

His efforts to develop and mentor musicians continued into his retirement as well. He was active in the Jazz Club of Sarasota, FL for many years. He initiated a music scholarship program and oversaw judging, awarding scholarships, and showcasing the many talented young musicians who received scholarships through the program.

The family will hold a private service of remembrance. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the University of Wisconsin, School of Music Alumni Matching Scholarship Fund.