'An Instrumental Role' – Randy Bartel, '92

‘An Instrumental Role’Bartel Commands Army Band to Build Relationships

BY EMILY KESEL

Lieutenant Colonel Randy Bartel, ’92, may work more than 4,500 miles from his alma mater, but the lessons he learned at Central Methodist University are never far from his mind.

The Commander of the United States Army Europe and Africa Band and Chorus, Bartel has led performances across the United States and Europe, in front of five U.S. presidents and other heads of state and international leaders. He and his wife, Regina, have been through 11 military household moves and currently live in Germany near Frankfurt. He expects he’ll move again within the next year.

And yet as he leads the military’s best musicians at events like the 75th anniversary of D-Day or the 57th Presidential Inauguration, or even travels around Europe as a tourist, Central continues to influence the way he sees the world.

“[Europe is] a great place to work, it’s a great place to live, and if folks get a chance to be tourists they must do it,” Bartel said. “A lot of what we would talk about there at Central that I was exposed to initially, I’m now able to see. You go through an art history class or music appreciation there and they describe things that you may not have the opportunity to see, but now it’s actually very, very possible for me.”

Other than a general appreciation for art and music, Bartel speaks highly of the education he received at Central because it set him and his fellow alumni up for great success in life. From his introduction into the “Central family” as a student in Marshall, Mo., to studying under some legendary professors as an undergrad, to staying in touch with classmates and other alumni, his connection to the university is strong even across an ocean.

“None other than Keith House was a mentor for many people, and it was no different for me,” he said. “It was largely centered on trumpet and music education, of course, but it was really about life in general. No matter what somebody decides to do after Central, I think they have a strong mentorship that starts there.”

Bartel’s journey in music after earning a music education degree from CMU started with four years of teaching at Elsberry Public Schools near St. Louis, but in 1996 he took an audition with a Marine Corps music program and thus began his career as a military musician. After six years as a trumpet instrumentalist with the Quantico Marine Corps Band, he went back to school for a master’s degree at the University of Missouri and a few years later became an officer in the Army.

Throughout his 23 years in the military, Bartel has been involved in many big events – an inauguration, numerous televised performances, and the 80th birthday celebration of legendary composer John Williams, to name a few – but it’s one of the quieter times that he says is one of his most treasured memories.

“Folks often do ask what I consider one of my more memorable events, and I go straight to my work with the ceremonial band at Pershing’s Own and the work that that band does daily in Arlington National Cemetery giving honors to our fallen,” Bartel said. “One of the most memorable is one of the most intimate and smaller moments there at Arlington, and I’ll always remember those.”

Another memorable event may turn out to be his promotion to lieutenant colonel this summer, but Bartel is quick to say that none of his numerous promotions over the years are any more important to him than the others.

“They’ve all been special in their own way,” he said. “I don’t know if I’d put any one over another because a lot of folks maybe don’t get as many of those that I’ve been fortunate to get, so I think they’re all priceless.”

With a family history of military service – his father was a member of the Army National Guard in Marshall – it’s no surprise that Bartel speaks so highly of his job and the purpose his band serves.

“Particularly for our overseas units, we do spend a lot of time as a strategic engagement opportunity for our commands, for our army, and for our country,” he said of the Army Europe and Africa Band. “Our world’s much safer when we have friends and relationships throughout the world. The bands actually play a role in that, a key, pivotal, instrumental role, in providing an opportunity to create some shared understanding, some communication that isn’t always possible when maybe words fail a bit.

“But music needs no translation,” Bartel says. “From the moment you begin events that include music, everyone begins to understand. And when you have shared understanding, you have great friendships. When you have great friendships, you have a great future. So the bands play a role in that.”

Music has also undoubtedly played a role in Bartel’s friendships and future as well, especially since his days at Central. He doesn’t get back to Fayette often, aside from conducting the Alumni Band in 2013 and returning in a “dad capacity” for his son Dakota, ’20, but he stays in touch with the CMU music community through social media. And although he says he’s begun to see some of his Central connections retire, he has no intention of doing so just yet.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to work in a job where I’ve found someone to pay me to continue what I studied to do at Central, and that was to play music,” he said. “It’s been a remarkable ride, and I don’t think it’s over yet.”

Donation Honors Sewards’ Impact on Music

Thanks to a generous donation from former Central Methodist University student Lynn Howard, the CMU music department will be creating three endowments and purchasing a new set of chimes.

Howard’s donation in honor of former Central band leaders Ken and Nancy Seward will facilitate the creation of the Seward Band Award for Excellence, to be awarded to an outstanding band student; the Ken and Nancy Seward Band Fellow, providing financial support to a student chosen to assist the director of bands; and the Seward Tour Fund, which will help pay for the annual band tour. One concert of each tour will now be dedicated to the Sewards, and one of Nancy Seward’s compositions will be played.

“The Sewards were the first ones who put demands on me for excellence,” said Howard, who attended Central for two years in the 1960s. “They always challenged their students to set goals for themselves and then work hard to achieve those goals. Half an effort was not acceptable. The standards for excellence that they expected from their students were no greater than what they demanded of themselves.”

Howard studied music under both Ken and Nancy Seward, beginning clarinet lessons with the latter in seventh grade, then playing under Ken at Ruskin High School, including at the 1960 Rose Bowl Parade. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Michigan before being drafted and playing in the U.S. Military Academy Band for three years. He later built a career as an international commercial lawyer.

“To hear Mr. Howard speak of the impact Ken and Nancy Seward had on him is moving,” said Dr. Dori Waggoner, chair of the CMU fine arts division. “His mentors taught him to set his expectations high and to work hard every day, and decades later he still feels fortunate to have been influenced by them. There is no doubt they changed the path of his life, and one way he is showing his appreciation for them is through this generous donation to their alma mater.

“Not only are we grateful for the support this donation will be for our students, but we are grateful to know more of the habits of excellence that were instilled in musicians during the Sewards’ time at Central and will strive to provide that same type of leadership today,” she added.

Howard went on to make another gift which will be used to fund a band scholarships for the next 50 years.

A celebration concert is planned for March 6, 2022, with Ken and Nancy’s children, Lynn Seward Fryer and Steve Seward, expected to attend. All alumni are invited to attend the concert, especially those who played under the Sewards’ batons. For more information, visit www.centralalumnievents.com.

Central Alums participate in 100th Anniversary Concert

The Marshall Municipal Band celebrated its 100th anniversary with a concert August 5, 2021. Several past and future members of the Central Methodist University Concert Band participated in the event. Directed for the last 22 years by Kevin Lines, ’86, the band is one of the oldest tax supported bands in Missouri and performs concerts every Thursday evening during the summer. Guest conductor Clarence Smith, ’84, a Marshall native and highly respected jazz educator in the Kansas City area, directed Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite march. Lt. Col. Randy Bartel, ‘92, Commander of the United State Army Europe Band and Chorus, sent a letter of congratulations and reminisced of his early musical career playing in the band. Central Methodist University students and alumni paritcipating in the concert included (front/left) Clarence Smith, ’84; Cheryl Eckhoff Lines, ’87; Johnny Brownell, ’25; Erick Echoff, ’99; (back/left) Shawn Thompson, ’08; Sam Gaddy, ’15; Sarah Schroeder Eckhoff, ’99; Kevin Lines, ’86; Sara Malan Summers, ’08; and (not pictured) Tim Reeder, ’74.

Alumni Band Brings Music Back to Campus

In one of the first events on campus since the start of the pandemic, around 50 former Central Methodist University band members returned for the 2021 Alumni Band concert in June.

“After a year of interacting virtually and listening to music on livestreams, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to make music together in person,” said Dr. Dori Waggoner, ’92, Dean of the Swinny Conservatory of Music.

The June 12 event was the 46th annual iteration of the concert, which was first held in February of 1974 with Kenneth Seward, ’51, serving as the guest conductor. This year, Waggoner and professor Skip Vandelicht, ’77, served as the directors for the day.

The performance was livestreamed to an online audience and featured music including "America, the Beautiful;" "Ammerland;" "Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite;" "First Suite in E-flat for Military Band;" "Festivo;" "His Honor;" and "Three Ayres from Gloucester." (from left) Kyler Perry, ’19, Dan Krienheder, ’09; and Marvin Manring, ’85

PARTICIPANTS

FLUTE Jennifer Balser, ’98; Pam Herendeen, ’15; Katie Harris, ’10; Casey McDonald-Schneider, ’15; Kim Schlomer, ’89; and Kelsy Whitacre, ’08 OBOE John Schultz, ’80 BASSOON Josh Atkins, ’10 CLARINET Heather Bass, ’86; Matthew Johnson, ’18; Nancy Meyer, ’95;

Kara Overly, ’12; Amanda Wyss, ’12; and Lori Pyatt, ’93 BASS CLARINET Bob McNeill, ’77

ALTO SAX Ryan Lewis, ’17; Shelby Rogers, ’18; and Nick Vick, ’21 TENOR SAX Alec Fields, ’21 PERCUSSION Sam Gaddy, ’15; Ethan Mann, ’18; Crystal Kimmi, ’21; and Gene Rauscher, ’74

TRUMPET Zack Kierstead, ’20; Dan Kreinheder, ’09; Katelyn Hanvey, ’17; Jeff Miner, ’93; Josh Myers, ’02; Kyler Perry, ’19;

Sara Summers, ’08; and Nathan Verhulst, ’17

HORN

Audrey Brandon, ’21; Shawna Crisler, ’16; Jordan Fallis, ’20; Susan Lewis, ’16; Daniel Long, ’14; and Luke McKinney, ’14 TROMBONE Larry Bennett, ’69; Caryn Jeffries, ’13; John Johnson, ’84; Robert Mobley, ’16; Bridgett Randolph, ’97; and DeSean Stokes, ’17

EUPHONIUM Jerry Byrd, ’56; Rick Cowart, ’75; Cassie McKinney, ’98; and Jordan Summers, guest TUBA David Hutchinson, ’07; Ed Lammers, ’78; and Marvin Manring, ’85