by Troy Tennyson
Oftentimes it is difficult to fill the shoes of a “legend.” The prospect intimidates some people, scaring them into looking for a different position or job.
Thankfully for Homer Community Schools, the prospect of replacing a stellar band director like Scott McMeeking did nothing to deter Homer’s newest band director, Concetta Brehmer, from chasing her dream.
In following someone as beloved as McMeeking, not only is Brehmer a little nervous, but she is also grateful for the amazing band that McMeeking is leaving her in charge of.
“Yes, I am a little nervous (in following McMeeking), but at the same time I am grateful because he set up such an incredible program with such amazing standards. It is intimidating, yes, and with how close the kids were with Scott, I know this first year is going to be a big change for them, but I went through three different band directors during my schooling, so I understand what they are going through; it is a little bit of a grieving process losing a teacher so important to them. But I knew right away what I was getting into. I knew that I planned to slowly add a little of my sparkle into what he had already built and had made at Homer.
“In the end, I would rather come into a program where the kids were loved and where they loved their band director than a program where the culture was dying. There are some big shoes to fill for sure, but I feel so supported here, and these are the best kids in the world.”
Brehmer comes to Homer for her first full-time teaching job after graduating high school from Traverse City West before studying for her undergrad at Western Michigan University with a double major in musical education and clarinet performance.
After student teaching at Three Rivers Community School, Brehmer was contacted about auditioning for her Master’s in clarinet performance at North Carolina Greensboro and could not pass up the chance to pursue that. For the last two years, Brehmer has been working on that Master’s degree.
Eventually, Brehmer was drawn back to the classroom.
“I not only missed Michigan, but I also missed teaching. I really missed the classroom so it is good to be back,” Brehmer added.
While in North Carolina, Brehmer would travel around and do little stints of student teaching, all while staying focused on the clarinet until a timely email from Homer High School Principal Cohen Sangster essentially punched Brehmer’s ticket to Trojan Country.
“When I was looking for jobs in Michigan, I saw an early opening for Homer, and I remembered how amazing they were as a band, so I applied even though I thought there was no way I was going to get it. I’ll be honest, I love small schools and the small community atmosphere because I think it leads to a better relationship with the small class sizes, so I just gave it a try and the weirdest thing happened.
“I flew in from North Carolina on a Monday to do a demonstration day at another school and literally right after I landed, Mr. Sangster emailed me asking if I was available for a demonstration day during that week. I was like, “Man, this is insane,’ so I came in for my demonstration day here at Homer.
“I came in and the 7th and 8th grade band was playing and I thought it was the high school band because they were so good. Just watching them was the coolest thing I had ever seen and I just couldn’t stop smiling. I sat around and talked with Scott for a while after class and a lot of the values he has, I also have. It was just a perfect fit. I got back home about two hours away and my family asked if the trip was worth it, and I said ‘Oh yeah.’ I had fallen in love with the school and those kids so fast.”
While Brehmer is not a Homer graduate, she understands the small town atmosphere and she understands how the parents and families appreciate what the band means.
“One of the most important parts of this transition is my relationship with Scott,” Brehmer said. “I call him all the time and I am always asking him questions. I just want people to know that at the end of the day I love teaching; more importantly, I love teaching band.
The passion for band here in Homer and the standard of excellence the community has, I am going to do everything in my power to continue that.
“When it comes down to it, the root of all this is the culture, the connections to the students and the students’ connections to each other; it is like one big family. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this now, and I promise I will do anything I need to do to make sure these kids feel comfortable and are happy to be here in band. We just have to keep keeping on.”
Any transition from a longtenured teacher to a “rookie” will have its ups and downs, but with the bedrock built by McMeeking and with the addition of Brehmer’s sparkle, it seems safe to say the Homer band will be turning heads for years to come.
Job - New Band director/teacher
High School - Homer High School, graduated from Traverse City West
College - Western Michigan for undergrad, North Carolina Greensboro for masters
Favorite Food - Chili, “Any chili competition I am there”
Favorite Dessert- Cheesecake
Favorite Movie - La La Land
Favorite TV Show - Ted Lasso
Favorite Book - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Hobbies - Running, I love to watch Detroit sports, I used to do Barre, crafts like needlepoint, and I play a lot of Zelda on my Nintendo Switch
Quote - “When it comes down to it, the root of all this is the culture, the connections to the students and the students’ connections to each other; it is like one big family. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this now, and I promise I will do anything I need to do to make sure these kids feel comfortable and are happy to be here in band. We just have to keep keeping on.”
Thankfully for Homer Community Schools, the prospect of replacing a stellar band director like Scott McMeeking did nothing to deter Homer’s newest band director, Concetta Brehmer, from chasing her dream.
In following someone as beloved as McMeeking, not only is Brehmer a little nervous, but she is also grateful for the amazing band that McMeeking is leaving her in charge of.
“Yes, I am a little nervous (in following McMeeking), but at the same time I am grateful because he set up such an incredible program with such amazing standards. It is intimidating, yes, and with how close the kids were with Scott, I know this first year is going to be a big change for them, but I went through three different band directors during my schooling, so I understand what they are going through; it is a little bit of a grieving process losing a teacher so important to them. But I knew right away what I was getting into. I knew that I planned to slowly add a little of my sparkle into what he had already built and had made at Homer.
“In the end, I would rather come into a program where the kids were loved and where they loved their band director than a program where the culture was dying. There are some big shoes to fill for sure, but I feel so supported here, and these are the best kids in the world.”
Brehmer comes to Homer for her first full-time teaching job after graduating high school from Traverse City West before studying for her undergrad at Western Michigan University with a double major in musical education and clarinet performance.
After student teaching at Three Rivers Community School, Brehmer was contacted about auditioning for her Master’s in clarinet performance at North Carolina Greensboro and could not pass up the chance to pursue that. For the last two years, Brehmer has been working on that Master’s degree.
Eventually, Brehmer was drawn back to the classroom.
“I not only missed Michigan, but I also missed teaching. I really missed the classroom so it is good to be back,” Brehmer added.
While in North Carolina, Brehmer would travel around and do little stints of student teaching, all while staying focused on the clarinet until a timely email from Homer High School Principal Cohen Sangster essentially punched Brehmer’s ticket to Trojan Country.
“When I was looking for jobs in Michigan, I saw an early opening for Homer, and I remembered how amazing they were as a band, so I applied even though I thought there was no way I was going to get it. I’ll be honest, I love small schools and the small community atmosphere because I think it leads to a better relationship with the small class sizes, so I just gave it a try and the weirdest thing happened.
“I flew in from North Carolina on a Monday to do a demonstration day at another school and literally right after I landed, Mr. Sangster emailed me asking if I was available for a demonstration day during that week. I was like, “Man, this is insane,’ so I came in for my demonstration day here at Homer.
“I came in and the 7th and 8th grade band was playing and I thought it was the high school band because they were so good. Just watching them was the coolest thing I had ever seen and I just couldn’t stop smiling. I sat around and talked with Scott for a while after class and a lot of the values he has, I also have. It was just a perfect fit. I got back home about two hours away and my family asked if the trip was worth it, and I said ‘Oh yeah.’ I had fallen in love with the school and those kids so fast.”
While Brehmer is not a Homer graduate, she understands the small town atmosphere and she understands how the parents and families appreciate what the band means.
“One of the most important parts of this transition is my relationship with Scott,” Brehmer said. “I call him all the time and I am always asking him questions. I just want people to know that at the end of the day I love teaching; more importantly, I love teaching band.
The passion for band here in Homer and the standard of excellence the community has, I am going to do everything in my power to continue that.
“When it comes down to it, the root of all this is the culture, the connections to the students and the students’ connections to each other; it is like one big family. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this now, and I promise I will do anything I need to do to make sure these kids feel comfortable and are happy to be here in band. We just have to keep keeping on.”
Any transition from a longtenured teacher to a “rookie” will have its ups and downs, but with the bedrock built by McMeeking and with the addition of Brehmer’s sparkle, it seems safe to say the Homer band will be turning heads for years to come.
Get to know your Teacher Name - Concetta Brehmer
Job - New Band director/teacher
High School - Homer High School, graduated from Traverse City West
College - Western Michigan for undergrad, North Carolina Greensboro for masters
Favorite Food - Chili, “Any chili competition I am there”
Favorite Dessert- Cheesecake
Favorite Movie - La La Land
Favorite TV Show - Ted Lasso
Favorite Book - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Hobbies - Running, I love to watch Detroit sports, I used to do Barre, crafts like needlepoint, and I play a lot of Zelda on my Nintendo Switch
Quote - “When it comes down to it, the root of all this is the culture, the connections to the students and the students’ connections to each other; it is like one big family. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this now, and I promise I will do anything I need to do to make sure these kids feel comfortable and are happy to be here in band. We just have to keep keeping on.”
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