Come Join The Celebration! - Wayne State College

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
Leader of the Band Got His Start at Wayne State
Brad Weber
“I’ve just wanted to do the best
I possibly could in order to help
my students be successful as
they traveled down life’s path
...I have always felt we
(as a band) can do this.”
As students march into the Wayne High School band room, they enter through a
hallway overflowing with award plaques, trophies and photos of smiling students in
uniforms. These winners have been part of a team effort coached for a different type of
score, a strong music tradition orchestrated by Brad Weber of Wayne.
“I just try to be myself and let the students know that it is about them and I truly
enjoy working with them,’’ Weber said. “I have always wanted students to be involved
in as many different programs, activities, and other opportunities as they could be. The
more they are involved, the better they are able to communicate in different areas later
in life.”
A 1977 Wayne State College alumnus, Weber graduated from Randolph Public
High School. He began teaching at Wayne State College in 1984 and Wayne High
School in 1986. He is the instrumental music instructor at Wayne High School and
serves as an adjunct faculty member at Wayne State College. His bachelor’s degree
is in fine arts in education with a major in instrumental music with a performing
concentration of percussion and clarinet. He earned a master of arts in music in 1992.
Although Weber’s success has been recognized statewide, a new honor has been
added to the list. Weber accepted the Donald A. Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award
at the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (NSBA) annual awards banquet March
6 in Lincoln. The award is NSBA’s highest award. It recognizes the outstanding
contribution Weber has made throughout his career.
Throughout Weber’s teaching career, his bands have excelled in contests and
captivated audiences during performances. He has built a successful program that
attracts students. A majority of students at Wayne High School are involved in band.
This year, 162 students participated in band in grades 9-12 from a total of 265 students
at Wayne High. More than 60 percent of Wayne High students enroll in band.
“I’ve just wanted to do the best I possibly could in order to help my students be
successful as they traveled down life’s path,’’ Weber said. “I have always felt we (as a
band) can do this.”
“Outstanding band directors have come before me,’’ Weber continued. “I am sure
they felt as I do about the band program including Ron Dalton, who I had the privilege
to follow. Don Schumacher, Earl Green and others were outstanding band directors.’’
His father and mother, Marvin and Virginia Weber, and Dr. Jay O’Leary of Wayne
State College, are a few of the people who have inspired Weber, he said.
“I could list pages of people who have inspired me over the years,’’ Weber said.
“My wife, Deb, my daughters Melissa, Megan and Micaela, and of course the students,
parents, school and community of Wayne that I have had the privilege to work with
over the years have motivated me.”
Weber and his wife Deb, have three daughters, Melissa ‘01, Megan ‘05 and
Micaela ‘09. His wife, Deb, is employed at Wayne State in the Counseling Center.
“I was lucky to attend Wayne State College and have the instructors that I did,’’
Weber said. “Dr. Jay O’Leary, Dr. Raymond Kelton, Jim Day, Dr. Cornell Runestad,
Connie Webber and others had a huge impact on my life.”
Wayne State Magazine 9