Mr. English Plays the Final Note of a Legendary Career

When you travel down to the Auditorium side of the school, it is typically one of the most quiet spots in the building. You have the District Office, the Board of Education Room, the pool area, and the technology rooms. However, sometimes when you go to that side of the school, the silence is broken by beautiful music coming out of the band room. For 33 years, the man in charge of those beautiful sounds has been Mr. English. He is retiring this year, but the incredible impact he has had on the school’s past, present, and future will never be forgotten.

Mr. English started at Weedsport right out of college. He has never been a substitute a day in his career, and his entire career has been at WHS. In fact, he has taught parents, and children, of the same family in his career.

“…I was very excited to have a teaching job and getting the chance to work with my own students…,” said Mr. English. He has also taught more than one generation of family members, saying, “The initial reaction when you are teaching the child of a former student is the realization that you are getting old. Parent teacher conferences can also be a little awkward. Seriously, though, this is another one of the great aspects of teaching in a small community, because there are many families in Weedsport where I personally know three generations of the same family.”

Mr. English works with many other people, including Mrs. Woodworth, Mrs. Buchman, and Mr. Franco in the Music Department.

“Working with Mr. English has been wonderful, and he’s been a great colleague, and a great friend,” said Mrs. Woodworth, who has been working with Mr. English for 31 years. “He’s given so much guidance…I’m going to miss him… the next band teacher has got big shoes to fill, I can’t imagine him not being here.”

Throughout his career, he has made many lifetime friends as well, including Mr. DiSanza, and Mr. Anderson, who share his passion for sports. Mr. English is an avid fan of Buffalo sports, including the Buffalo Bills, and the Buffalo Sabres. Mr. English is also the commissioner of the Weedsport Fantasy Football League that some members of the staff participate in.

“Actually, Mr. O’Connor started the league back in 1992, and we have been playing…for the past 23 years,” said English. He became the league commissioner in 2007. When the faculty league started, they had to do all the stats and scores by hand, compared to now, where ESPN does that for you.

Mr. English has been teaching band for his entire career, and has also done a couple other courses, including Music Theory, which focuses more on the roots of music. Many students have taken these courses, and many came out with something special. Some of his best known music students include: Bridgid Bibbens, Sal Giancarelli, and Sara Cunningham.

“…Mr. English definitely encouraged me to go into education, and his general demeanor and wisdom are always in my mind…”, said Bibbens, now a professional musician playing the electric violin known as The Viper. “…he was always there for me whenever I came out of one of those awful adjudication rooms in tears, encouraging and reassuring me that I’d done my best.” She returned to Weedsport earlier this year to perform at the school’s Concerto Concert.

“Every teacher wants their students to be successful,” said English. “I am equally proud of my former students who studied subjects outside of music and went on to receive doctoral degrees in everything from Neuro Science to Literature.” Giancarelli is now a drummer for the band Staind, and Cunningham went on to perform with the Marine Band.

Mr. English has also worked with family at Weedsport. His son, Mike English (dubbed, “Young Mr. English” by many students) was a substitute at WCS, as well as the Varsity Golf Coach from 2013-2014.

“Both of my parents are teachers so it would be logical to make the connection that I went into teaching because they did,” said Mike English. “Over time [my dad] began to help me realize that there are a lot of things that happen while being a teacher that you should not take personal. That piece of advice has definitely helped me through some situations I faced during my first year as a full time PE teacher. I have to take what I learned, put my own twist on it, and always be true to myself or else I won’t be nearly as effective.” Mike is now teaching PE at Clark County School District in Nevada, the fifth largest school district in the nation.

“Like every parent, my hope is that my children find success and happiness in their lives,” said Mr. English. “When they manage to accomplish something in a field that is also near and dear to my heart, that only makes it that much better.” Mike, and Mr. English’s other sons, Dan and Eric, all perform in the group Downbeat Percussion, which is also the official drumline of the Buffalo Bills football team.

Throughout the years, Mr. English has done many things for Weedsport, all which include funny, and sad, memories. Many of which, he will remember for his lifetime, and he’ll cherish them forever.

“Well, my final concert will be a memory I will have forever,” concluded English. “I truly want to thank my sons, my students, my colleagues, and the entire community for making that night such a special event for me.” He has seen so much throughout the school, and he’ll hopefully see so much more. Weedsport will lose a great teacher, friend, colleague, and mentor.

“I can’t believe it,” said Bibbens. “It’s truly the end of an era. I’m happy for him, but sad for Weedsport’s future generations! I know his replacement will be absolutely wonderful though, even though he or she will have very big shoes to fill.”

Weedsport will have some big shoes to fill, but no one could 100% replace Mr. English – a pure Weedsport teacher.

Author’s Note: Mr. English also had six more important memories he shared with me:

– “Back in 1984, we had a concert shortly before I was going to get married. We were supposed to play, “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” but when I gave the downbeat, the band started playing the “Wedding March” instead.”

– “I directed some great Jazz Ensembles back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. We went to numerous jazz festivals and competed against bands from around the state.”

– “Being involved with starting a musical theatre program at the school. We were one of the few schools (and quite possibly the only small school) that used an entirely student pit band.”

– “Marching in the parades is always fun, but the one I will probably remember the most was the year we had to break ranks twice to allow emergency vehicles to get out of the parade to answer a call. Then, a fireman stopped the parade just as we were approaching the Pit Stop because a tornado had just set down in Savannah. We had to hustle to the busses and we got back to the school just before one of the worst storms I’ve ever seen hit.”

– “A career highlight was attending the NYSSMA convention three times to listen to the All-State Band perform with one of my students in it.”

– “The entire 2012-13 school year. The High School Wind Ensemble performed music based on Dante’s trilogy: ‘The Divine Comedy’.”