The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Newest band director strikes the right note
Some people are born to be great landscapers. Others find their niches baking cakes, engineering computer software or guiding whitewater rafting trips.
For Brett Tomko, it’s always been about the school band.
“From early on, I had an interest in it,” he said. “You know, I just always wanted to be in band. I don’t know why. I just always really wanted to be a part of it.”
Tomko, 31, who took the helm as Madison Schools’ director of bands last year, succeeds previous band director Kristy May, who held the position since 2004. He is the seventh band director at the Madison Schools since it began the program back in the 1950s, he said.
A 2003 West Geauga High School graduate, Tomko comes from a band family, he said.
His brother, Justin, two years his junior, was a tuba player. His dad, Peter, also a West Geauga alum, played the trombone in the band and his mom, Kathy, was a typical “band mom,” he said.
“So, yeah, we’re definitely a band family,” he said. “My mom and dad went to every game. My mom was a uniform mom all through high school. You know — she ran the uniform room, got them cleaned, sized, passed out and took them back after the games.”
He said his grandparents even got in on it, often coming to his games and concerts and still do to this day.
A trombone player, himself, Tomko said he went through a few phases as far as what instrument he wanted to play, before deciding on that.
“When I was in third grade, I wanted to play whatever instrument played the Power Rangers theme,” he said with a grin. “So I thought the flute was the way to go. Then I went through a few others — the saxophone, then the trombone.”
He said his dad played the trombone, so that influenced his decision some.
“It’s funny about picking instruments. Instruments tend to have different resonations with different people and it’s funny what attracts different people,” he said. “So it’s kind of funny how it worked out. Today, I cannot see myself playing the flute or the saxophone. You kind of find your niche for it and that’s one of the things I love about starting the kids on instruments,
seeing what instrument they like.”
He said there are times when he can instinctively tell what instrument a student is going to play. Other times, he said, it’s the complete opposite.
And with 396 students between sixth grade and 12 grade in the band, he gets plenty of practice determining who likes what best.
It’s no small feat managing that many musicians and it takes a lot of extra time outside normal school hours. So one has to love being in this business, he said. And love it, he does. “I love it. If you don’t absolutely love it, you wouldn’t do this job,” he said. “You absolutely have to — with all the hours you have to put into it and all the hard work.”
He’s not exaggerating, either. While most kids were still enjoying their summer vacations, Tomko and the band were back at work as early as July 28, the start of band camp.
He said working with the kids is his favorite part about the job.
“That’s the best part of this thing,” he said. “It’s great to be able to teach them what I know and show them what I know, having been through all the different band programs I’ve been through over the years — seeing them get excited about learning new things. And I remember where I was when I learned those same
things. So it’s really a neat thing to be able to kind of relive those moments all over again.”
And his students seem to like Tomko quite a bit, too.
Just ask marching band drum majors Chrissy Kurilec, who plays the trumpet, and clarinet player Emily Carroll, both seniors.
“He’s kind of been like my best friend these past two years,” Kurilec said. “He’s brought a new perspective to the band. He’s made a big difference and it’s definitely been for the good of the band.”
She said he’s more than just a band director, too.
“He’s the kind of guy that, if you have a problem, he’s the guy to come to, to help you out,” she said.
Carroll, who plans on pursuing a career in music education, said she’s learned quite a bit from Tomko over the last two years and looks forward to applying it to her professional goals.
“I feel that it’s a very good thing that (Tomko) is the band director,” she said. “He takes time with us and explains things and shares all this knowledge and experience he has so well. And that is especially important to me because I’m looking forward to a career in music.”
Both young women also agreed Tomko’s leadership style is especially effective.
“He’s really good at letting us know when it’s time to be serious and when we can lighten up a little and
have fun,” Carroll said. “He’s definitely got a good balance there.”
And, according to Kurilec, it’s working wonders for the band.
“I see this band growing — and going places,” she said.
Like Carroll and Kurilec, Assistant Band Director Kitty Stout said Tomko’s transition into the band director’s role was a smooth one, despite the apprehensions some may have felt
about working with a new leader.
“It was seamless,” Stout said. “He’s just an awesome guy. He cares about the kids. He’s absolutely great under pressure and we have a good time. He’s fun to work with. We have a lot of laughs. And, for how young he is, he has a very effective way of working with all these different students.”
It all seems to come back to one thing for Tomko:
loving what he does.
“When I was in school, we started band in fifth grade,” he said. “By sixth grade, I knew I wanted to be a band director. I loved middle school band and I knew, even back then, that I wanted a job where I could do both (middle school and high school bands.) And now I have a job where I get to do it all and I’m loving every minute of it. It’s the job I’ve always wanted.”