Heidi Sarver, beloved college band director, to retire

BY MACAYLA COOK
Workers Reporter

When Heidi Sarver acquired an electronic mail from her monetary adviser this previous August, she was anticipating a standard check-in reporting that, as anticipated, she was on monitor to retire on the age of 62. What she discovered as a substitute would change the course of her life.

“It mentioned, ‘Would you wish to exit at 60?’” Sarver, who serves as a professor of music and director of athletic bands on the college, mentioned. “And I did say to her at first, ‘Are you kidding?’ And mainly, the following morning, I mentioned, ‘You understand what, let’s do that.’”

Sarver, or “Sarv,” as her college students have nicknamed her, has been working on the college for 29 years. Throughout that point, she has taken the Fightin’ Blue Hen Marching Band (UDMB) from a smaller, budding program to the 300-member powerhouse that it’s right now.

“What did I do to make that occur? I don’t know,” Sarver mentioned. “We had the correct background for what the scholar physique make-up was. And the college was hungry. They have been hungry for a extremely huge program.”

Now, the UDMB boasts a freshman class of between 100 and 125 rookies per 12 months.

Senior music training main Katie Snyder attributes this recruitment drive to Sarver.

“I believe Sarv does a very stellar job of welcoming us into the band,” Snyder, who performs trombone within the UDMB, mentioned. “The primary 12 months, we have been on Zoom, and she or he nonetheless went out of her approach to herald visitor audio system who work with drum corps.”

Given the impression that Sarver has had on the band program, quite a lot of college students have been stunned when she introduced her retirement.

Snyder expressed that previous conversations with Sarver led her to consider that she would keep for “one other couple years, at the very least.”

Junior music training main Jillian Fetrow, a drum main within the UDMB, agreed.

“I keep in mind how shocked I felt when she instructed us on the primary night time of band camp,” Fetrow mentioned. “As soon as I considered it a bit tougher, although, I assume I wasn’t that stunned. You understand, she’s had nearly 30 years doing what she’s doing, and she or he’s been very revolutionary.”

The choice to inform college students on the primary night time of band camp was not a simple one for Sarver. She thought of doing it on the finish of band camp in order to not intrude with the method. She additionally thought of writing a letter for the scholars to learn beforehand, however she knew deep down that it needed to be the primary night time.

“It was the quietest they’ve ever been, and there have been tears on either side,” Sarver mentioned. “After which there was fairly a loud standing ovation.”

Sarver’s retirement has led to a robust – however diversified – pupil response. There may be a substantial amount of happiness for her, however lowerclassmen have additionally voiced dissatisfaction with the timing.

“As we’re shifting nearer to the top of the common season, [I’m] seeing unhappiness, doable resentment, all of it,” Sarver mentioned. “I see that form of creeping into their faces now. I can’t do a lot to vary that, in order that’s onerous to look at develop.”

Seeking to the top of the season, members of the UDMB are unhappy however excited on the new period that awaits them.

Many additionally expressed that sure end-of-season traditions, reminiscent of the ultimate dwelling soccer recreation on Nov. 18, will really feel odd as a result of they can even contain saying goodbye to their director.

“I believe senior recreation will certainly be onerous as a result of she can even be a senior,” Fetrow mentioned. “However I don’t know. I personally am excited for a brand new change and to see what occurs with the following chapter of UDMB’s life.”

Sarver echoed this sentiment and expressed a way of hope for this 12 months’s junior class, saying that their perseverance reminds her of the senior class she led throughout her first 12 months on the college.

“I perceive the anger and the unhappiness, nevertheless it’s their band,” Sarver mentioned. “I’m only a caretaker. So that you come again, you retain the band your band and also you assist the brand new particular person take it to the following degree.”