While the first trimester of Band is almost over, band director Paula Neuzil is working hard to plan for an absence because she expects to have a baby sometime at the beginning of the second trimester.

“So since I’ll be going on maternity leave, the biggest challenge is we are preparing for solo and ensemble and making sure that we have someone who can work with students to kind of help them prepare,” band director Paula Neuzil said.

Principal Luke Madsen is having a challenging time finding someone who can teach band while Neuzil is on maternity leave. He has been contacting universities like UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire, Winona State and UW-River Falls to find students who are finishing their teaching program in January.

“That would be extra challenging because you have to expect that somebody can come in and have the breadth of knowledge that Mrs. Neuzil has [and that is] is farfetched. And then also to find somebody that’s willing to put in the extra time that band directors put in before school and after school,” Madsen said.

Madsen says that if he isn’t able to find a long-term band sub, he will have to find staff members within the district who can teach the class.

“We’re really hoping, though, to find one person that we can put in that spot for the time she’s gone,” Madsen said.

During the second trimester, students get ready for spring solo and ensemble by practicing their musical pieces. Senior Liv Rumsey is concerned about the upcoming solo and ensemble season.

“So the hardest part of Mrs. Neuzil leaving I think is solo and ensemble because everyone’s given solos, duets or whatever, and it’s just really hard to not have her there to ask questions,” Rumsey said.

The students get to pick and play their music for solo and ensemble during structured practice times built within the class. Neuzil has routines that keep the students in band focused and learning during class.

“So I think with Mrs. Neuzil being gone, it’s going to take some adjusting to have a new conductor, especially if they’re not typically a band director. But I think it’ll be really interesting to have a new director and see what they bring to band,” Rumsey said.

The students in the band are uncertain about how the class will run in the second trimester. Madsen says that he has been speaking to potential teachers who have the right skills for band.

“It’ll be an impact. And I’m sure that while we would love to find somebody as good as Mrs. Neuzil. As great as she is, we’re probably not. We’re not going to find somebody who is Mrs. Neuzil,” Madsen said.

Even though the band will be without their director for the second trimester, students like Liv Rumsey are hopeful about the new band director.

“I’m looking forward to meeting whoever the sub is and pushing our limits as a band,” Rumsey said.