KMEA 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees: Thoughts

The Kansas Music Educators Association has announced their 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees: John M. Buehler, Donald B. Farthing, and Debra Hedden. Although I am disappointed that John Cisetti has been inducted (yet), I would like to take the time to congratulate these three on being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

John M. Buehler

KMEA Bio Summary: "John M. Buehler taught choral music in Ashland, Sublette, Hugoton, and Winfield before serving 25 years as Director of Choral Studies at Baker University. Dr. Buehler directed choirs in performances at KMEA In-Service Workshops, and in local, regional, and international concert performances in the UK, Europe, and Asia. He received the 2009 KCDA Harry Robert Wilson award. His wife, Dr. Susan Buehler, served as accompanist for nearly all his choral teaching."

My Thoughts: Dr. Buehler truly embodied the ideal Kansas Music Educator - born and raised in Kansas, getting both his Bachelors' and Masters' degrees from Kansas Schools (Fort Hays State and Wichita State, respectively) and teaching for four different public K-12 schools in Kansas before starting directing choral Music at Baker University. If you would ask me, that would be a dream for me to teach at several different schools in Kansas and then spend the rest of my teaching career at a College. (I would personally do it for Band rather than Choir, though). He was also active in church choral directing around the state (Sublette, Baldwin City, Shawnee Mission, etc.) As an active member of my church, I aspire to direct the church choir/congregation having it be my position in Church in my future. Dr. Buehler also travelled with his choirs to Europe and Asia, was president of the Baldwin City Lions Club, and won the Harry Robert Wilson award, described by the KCDA as "given annually to one outstanding member for lifetime achievement and contributions to the field of choral music." Dr. Buehler might not be the greatest choral director of all time, but he is definitely one to aspire to be like even as a band or orchestra director.

Donald B. Farthing

KMEA Bio Summary: "Bands under the direction of Don appeared at the KMEA In-Service Workshop four times and consistently received Superior ratings. Don directed the Kansas Lions Band and organized the Neewollah Marching Festival. He served as President of Kansas Bandmasters Association, and was a KMEA district president four times. In 2009, Don was selected as the Kansas Outstanding Bandmaster."

My Thoughts: Founding a Marching Festival that is mildly competitive and is able to stick around for 40 years is something that almost no one in Kansas has been able to do successfully, but Don Farthing is an exception to that rule. Being a president of one of the 7 districts is trivial in comparison - yet Don did it FOUR times with the Southeast District. Another aspect of Don's impressive, Hall of Fame-worthy resume is that he directed the All Kansas International Lions Band during the late 1990s and early 2000s. But I think that the tipping point for KMEA to choose him is that he was a founding member of the Kansas Bandmasters Association in 1974 and became the KBA's outstanding bandmaster in 2009. Almost every OBM to come from KBA has become a hall of famer, and Farthing is no exception. He is worthy of this honor and I hope he enjoys becoming part of an exceptional class of music educators.

Debra Hedden

KMEA Bio Summary: "Debra Hedden taught elementary general music in Iowa for 20 years, then later chaired music education at the University of Northern Iowa. In 2003 she began teaching at the University of Kansas, becoming chair of music education in 2008. She was the national chair for the Society for General Music, published over 20 research articles, served on the editorial boards for three research journals, and made presentations in China, Tasmania, Australia, England, Canada, and Lithuania. In Kansas, she conducted various festivals, provided instruction for teachers, and participated in a number of KMEA conferences as a presenter."

My Thoughts: Becoming chair of music education at the greatest research university in the state only five years after starting to teach there is quite an accomplishment, but Debra Hedden made it happen, even never being a resident of the state beforehand. What I think Debra is going to be known best for is her giving to General Music around the state, country, and world. She was the national chair for the United States Society for General Music, published over 20 research articles, and made presentations around the world in China, Australia, England, Canada, and Lithuania. She received two Fulbright Scholar Awards and was invited to Lithuania to teach undergraduate and graduate general music methods on five occasions. KU even awarded her as an outstanding teacher during her tenure there. Wonderful job on making the Hall of fame, Debra. You definitely are worthy of this honor.

Congrats once again to John, Donald, and Debra for being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It is a great honor that you should be proud of yourselves for.