A Special Award of
The John Philip Sousa Foundation
Karl Mueller is the Band Director at Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He has been with Kenosha Unified School since 1997. He is Co-Coordinator in the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music, and is a Member of the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, Wisconsin School Music Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Mueller was Guest Conductor for the International School Music Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2015, and Guest Conductor for the Wisconsin Christian Schools Music Festival in Milwaukee, WI in 2019. This year, he received the Certificate for Excellence in Youth Music from the Milwaukee Civic Music Association.
Karl’s ensembles have racked up numerous Superior rating in the Wisconsin State Music Association and Festivals of Music since 2014, receiving the Tim Lautzenheiser Esprit De Corps Award three times. He also mentions, “I am most proud of my high retention rate of students, even during covid, but there is no award for this.”
Mueller received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and his Masters of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.
- The Bandworld Legion of Honor was established in 1989 to honor, over the course of a year, eight of the finest band directors in our business.
- Recipients have taught for at least fifteen years, have maintained a very high-quality concert band program, and have contributed significantly to the profession through dedication to bands and band music.
- Each is honored at the annual Sousa Foundation awards ceremony during the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
- Chairman of the Legion of Honor Committee is Terry Austin, Virginia Commonwealth University.
When asked what factors do you consider most important in shaping your career, Karl said, “The factors that have influenced my teaching the most include my family and my mentors. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was raised in a household that valued music. My parent’s understanding and support helped me to develop my love of music through playing in a wide variety of ensembles that allowed me to learn from amazing educators.
I am lucky to have had a number of excellent mentors from an early age. These mentors include Al Johnson-my high school band director, Jim Doepke and Mark Helgert-my cooperating teachers, Jim Mertins, Bobby Lindsey and Frank Sloan who were my brass instructors in the Pioneer drum and bugle corps, and Dr. Glenn C. Hayes, the Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. My wife, Robin and children, Alexandra and Alaina have supported my career at every opportunity. Being musicians themselves they have helped me view music through other perspectives.
I have been a band director in the Kenosha Unified School District since 1997 which has allowed me to learn from deeply experienced and dedicated music educators in my district. In addition, I have built relationships with outstanding music educators from a wide array of backgrounds and experience from all over Wisconsin and beyond. These relationships have helped me understand that we are more alike than different, and we are all better when we work together.
Through my mentors I have learned how to have high standards but be understanding on the way to achieving them. I learned the value of teaching perseverance, team work and the weight that comes along with people depending on you. I would not be the educator I am today with these relationships and experiences.”
His professional philosophy statement is, “I am driven by my student-centered teaching philosophy. I believe that my role as a music teacher is to serve the musician and person. This is done by helping musicians grow their knowledge, hobbies and passions, teaching perseverance and helping young musicians grow into adults who display good character and responsibility. We teach so much more than music, from setting goals and time management to being able to work with others as a team.
I want my students to believe in themselves, the power of hard work and the power of perseverance. My pro-student approach and desire for student ownership helps my students become strong, independent and literate musicians. I understand the importance of being a team player, building relationships with students and their families and fostering a culture of acceptance and belonging in and out of the band room. I cherish the traditions of our program and work closely with my elementary and middle school colleagues to help students build a strong foundation and bridge the gap between middle school and high school. This foundation helps welcome them to the family. I strongly believe that we don’t teach music, but rather we teach people through music. Theodore Roosevelt was correct when he said “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” The longer I teach, the easier it is to see… band is so much more than music, and the world needs us now more than ever.“
