Mr. Pelt fights an arduous battle every day, though not in the traditional sense. As a band director, he has to keep control over a classroom of more than fifty students, each armed with a personal noise maker. Though many could never live up to the task, Mr. Pelt always walks into class equipped with a smile and plenty of corny jokes. 

If you asked him, Mr. Pelt would say that his job mainly consists of waving his arms around like a lunatic while his students do the real work. As band president this year, I have had the privilege of conducting the band whenever Mr. Pelt has been absent, and I can say without a doubt that his job is much more than simply waving a baton. Conducting requires respect from the band members, attention to detail, knowledge of music and composition, and most importantly, a nearly unlimited amount of patience. These are the qualities that make Mr. Pelt an exceptional director and teacher. 

To me, Mr. Pelt is an excellent example of the type of servant leadership that is taught by Jesus. He doesn’t work for his own gain and glory, but rather for the sake of his students.

Mr. Pelt doesn’t just lead one ensemble, either. He conducts both the middle and high school symphonic bands, the middle and high school jazz bands, and various other instrumental ensembles. Moreover, he schedules concerts and clinic days so his students can hone their craft, and he even teaches classes about woodworking and electronics in the Innovation and Design Lab. Outside of the classroom, you can find Mr. Pelt at basketball games leading the pep band, in theatrical productions conducting the pit orchestra, or up in the tech booth helping manage lights and sound for auditorium events.

What’s special about band class is that it’s not just a time to play music, but a time to develop important skills that carry over to all areas of life. For example, Mr. Pelt encourages his students to practice and become better at their instruments in order to develop discipline and tenacity which are useful in all kinds of endeavors. Additionally, Mr. Pelt doesn’t want his students to be idle and dependent. He pushes them to take initiative and to solve problems, such as figuring out how to play a certain part of a song, or how to load heavy drums from the band room onto a truck without damaging anything. Through practicing and performing, students develop confidence in their own abilities and are inspired to further develop their skills. Mr. Pelt teaches his students to be leaders by motivating them to continually improve and look beyond their own needs and interests.

Another thing that makes band class unique compared to other classes is that collaboration is a necessity. Opposed to the typical classroom environment where students sit and listen to a lecture, in band class students need to be actively engaged and contributing to the group. Mr. Pelt understands that performing as a band requires working together toward a common goal, and he therefore emphasizes the importance of teamwork, whether amongst instrumental sections or the band as a whole.  

I can personally attest to the impact that Mr. Pelt has on his students. Band class has always held a special place in my heart, and during my eight years of having Mr. Pelt as a teacher, I have learned much from him about how to be a better person, musician, and follower of Christ. 

To me, Mr. Pelt is an excellent example of the type of servant leadership that is taught by Jesus. He doesn’t work for his own gain and glory, but rather for the sake of his students. He shows that leadership should not be motivated by devotion to oneself, but rather by devotion to everyone else. As band president, Mr. Pelt has pushed me to look beyond myself and to lead with humility through service to others.

Mr. Pelt has also encouraged me to grow further as a musician. In eighth grade, taking an improvised solo in the jazz band was one of the most terrifying things I could imagine, but now as a senior, I am excited whenever I get the chance to take a solo. Mr. Pelt has challenged me to play difficult music such as the piano solo in “The Kid from Red Bank” and in doing so has shown me my potential as a musician. Moreover, through his weekly devotionals, Mr. Pelt has taught me what it means to be Biblically-rooted in the pursuit of musical excellence by looking to the Bible as a guide for improvement.

Most importantly, Mr. Pelt has taught me why playing music is so significant. Music tells a story to the audience and carries emotions that cannot be expressed through words. Ultimately, what Mr. Pelt has imparted to me and all of his students is that the beauty of music points to an awe-inspiring Creator, and that our goal in playing music is to give Him glory and praise.