Walter "Bud" Meisel was a music educator for over 40 years.
During Bud's teaching career he was instrumental in growing the
band and music programs in each of his venues. His first year in
Vilas, Colorado he started the music curriculum in a school that
had never had music before. In Dodge City, Lamar, Ulysses, and
Concordia, the band programs grew perceptively to the largest
enrollments to date. Along with the numbers, the bands grew
musically to a level of performance reflected in the quality of
literature performed.
While teaching in Colorado he participated in the Colorado Bandmaster Association as a board member for eight years and two years as President (1973-74). He was President of the Arkansas Valley Music Educators five times between 1971 and 1976. He was membership chairman for the Kansas Bandmasters Association in 1990-91 and served as KBA President in 1994-1995. He was President of the South Central District of KMEA in 2003- 2005 and made a tremendous impact on the KMEA state board during that time.
His bands consistently earned 1st place awards in the Arkansas Valley Marching Festivals and performed at the CMEA conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. His bands from Ulysses, Concordia and Goessel participated in the Cavalcade of Music in Colorado Springs several times from 1985 to 1998 receiving very high ratings reflecting a very musical performance. The Concordia band performed at the KMEA In-Service Workshop five times during his tenure and represented Kansas in Washington D.C. at the 1993 Bicentennial Musical Salute to America. When Bud succeeded Jerry Toews in Goessel he continued the high level of musicianship to which Goessel had been accustomed and continued to develop musicians who showed a love for music and its place in their lives. The South Central District of KMEA awarded Bud its Outstanding High School Music Educator in 2005. He was awarded the Outstanding Bandmaster for the Kansas Bandmasters Association in 2008.
Throughout his career he participated in many music festivals as Festival Director, Festival Adjudicator, Guest Conductor, staff member or instructor both in Colorado and Kansas. His adjudicating was highly sought after throughout the state in the areas of marching, concert, and solo/ensembles. In all of his Kansas positions he served on committees and teams working to improve the schools. He was active in community and church activities throughout his life. His love for kids also included coaching T-ball in Ulysses and golf in Concordia. In each community he was very active in the church, serving on Boards of Deacons, Administrative Boards, Finance Boards, and Choirs. He was also active in Lions Clubs, Arts and Humanities Councils, and Community Concert Associations. Bud was a role model for students, colleagues, and friends, demonstrating love for them, as well as music and life. With a keen sense of humor he was able to make most every situation a meaningful experience. His respect for his students, colleagues, family and friends, and his strong spiritual beliefs created relationships that will continue to be remembered.
While teaching in Colorado he participated in the Colorado Bandmaster Association as a board member for eight years and two years as President (1973-74). He was President of the Arkansas Valley Music Educators five times between 1971 and 1976. He was membership chairman for the Kansas Bandmasters Association in 1990-91 and served as KBA President in 1994-1995. He was President of the South Central District of KMEA in 2003- 2005 and made a tremendous impact on the KMEA state board during that time.
His bands consistently earned 1st place awards in the Arkansas Valley Marching Festivals and performed at the CMEA conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. His bands from Ulysses, Concordia and Goessel participated in the Cavalcade of Music in Colorado Springs several times from 1985 to 1998 receiving very high ratings reflecting a very musical performance. The Concordia band performed at the KMEA In-Service Workshop five times during his tenure and represented Kansas in Washington D.C. at the 1993 Bicentennial Musical Salute to America. When Bud succeeded Jerry Toews in Goessel he continued the high level of musicianship to which Goessel had been accustomed and continued to develop musicians who showed a love for music and its place in their lives. The South Central District of KMEA awarded Bud its Outstanding High School Music Educator in 2005. He was awarded the Outstanding Bandmaster for the Kansas Bandmasters Association in 2008.
Throughout his career he participated in many music festivals as Festival Director, Festival Adjudicator, Guest Conductor, staff member or instructor both in Colorado and Kansas. His adjudicating was highly sought after throughout the state in the areas of marching, concert, and solo/ensembles. In all of his Kansas positions he served on committees and teams working to improve the schools. He was active in community and church activities throughout his life. His love for kids also included coaching T-ball in Ulysses and golf in Concordia. In each community he was very active in the church, serving on Boards of Deacons, Administrative Boards, Finance Boards, and Choirs. He was also active in Lions Clubs, Arts and Humanities Councils, and Community Concert Associations. Bud was a role model for students, colleagues, and friends, demonstrating love for them, as well as music and life. With a keen sense of humor he was able to make most every situation a meaningful experience. His respect for his students, colleagues, family and friends, and his strong spiritual beliefs created relationships that will continue to be remembered.