Cedarville University

Hey All! I'm Gary Rouster, and a graduate from the stone age...1984. That was years before the DMC, and all the splendor of the new music department digs! I have fond memories of the old Fine Arts Building. Like many of you, I was/am a french horn player, and I still stay reasonably active with it, mostly I play with my students and community groups. I'll be starting my 22nd year in the teaching "biz" this fall. From what I hear there aren't many grads of my era at the 'ville still teaching music, or putting that music degree to work for them. If you are from the 80s epoch, I'd love to hear from/about you. Even if you're not from the 80s, I'd love to hear from/about you!

During the 22 years I've been teaching, I worked for 4 years in Indianapolis, teaching in a private school (Bethesda Christian), then moved to a tiny public school near Sidney, Ohio for 3 years. The past 15 years have been spent teaching at Hanover-Horton Schools, near Jackson, Michigan. I am responsible for band in grades 5-12, and High School Choir. God has been good to me and my family over the years. Hanover is a great place to work. Even though it is a public school, I have a fair degree of freedom to talk with students about my faith. My district also allows me to send students to the Music Showcase weekend, which I've done for about the past 9 years. This weekend is one of the highlights of my school year. Not only do I get to expose my students to some great music, and great musicians, but I also get to expose them to the gospel! After just one rehearsal with Mr. DiCuirci, my students understand me a whole lot better. I have modeled my teaching after him, and over the past decade, Mr. D and I have been able to renew our friendship, and once again enjoy each other's sense of humor. Several years back I was able to convince Mr. D and Dr. Anderson to come to Michigan to work with my students for 2 days and then conduct them at a concert. WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!

In 1986, I married Carol Essler, whom I met in a conducting class at the 'ville. She also played flute and piccolo in the concert band. She remembers staring up at all 5'17" of Mr. D, while he was "dismantling" me for cracking some kind of joke or smart alec remark. While she was a business major, she was still a flute player, so, since Mr. Chenoweth (my Horn prof at the'ville) had married a flute player, and Louie Stout (whom I studied with after the 'ville) were both married to flute players, I knew our union would be blessed! In 1996 God further blessed us with a son, Nathan, who is nearly 11 years old now... He has become quite the evangelist, as he is fearless in his witness, and has led many of his friends to faith in Christ! He's now a member of the band at H-H, but, alas, he's a sax player...I couldn't convince him to play a real instrument!  ;~ )

This past weekend, 8/4/07, our church (Skiff Lake Bible Church) hosted Dr. Clevenger and Mr. DiCuirci as they played a concert. Besides my family sharing some awesome fellowship with them, our entire church body was blessed by their music, teaching and testimonies. If any of you have any pull in your local church, talk to your pastor about scheduling these awesome servants of God. I know my church plans to have them come on at least a yearly basis from now till eternity!

I believe I now have the longest message, so I'll stop rambling!

I discovered this forum today and decided to be the first post of 2008.

Hey, Rouster,  this is Colin Lord.  For the rest of you, Gary and I played in the Cedarville band around the same years in the early 80's.  We met up again when I was in Michigan on furlough in '06 and he took my daughter to Music Showcase with some of his band members.  On furlough you ask?  Yes, I'm a missionary in Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators.  I teach missionary kids music.  When I was at the 'ville, I never would have imagined I'd be teaching music overseas, but God works in mysterious ways...

We have a great music program here at the Ukaurmpa International School where I teach.  Others before me worked hard to get it where it is today, and I've just been able to help keep it going with them.  We have a high school band of about 35-40, middle school band of 30-35, ms choir of 18, and hs choir of 45.  All this from a high school with about 70 students. 

So how do you keep in shape on your instrument?  When I lived in Michigan I played in local orchestras.  Here there aren't groups like that unless I conduct them, so my wife, Dianne (great piano player-NG 88), and I (clarinetist-85) do recitals every so often.

 We are looking for another choir director here if anybody is looking for a challenge on the mission field.  Send an email my way, and I'd be happy to let you know more specifics.  Right now I need to get off line so another family member (one of my seven kids) can make some phone calls.

Thanks Dr. C for facilitating this great forum.  It brings back so many good memeries.  Especially since my kids were playing the CD of C'ville's Pep Band in the background while I was reading posts.

In Christ,
Colin Lord

Gary and Colin:

Hello, Boys...Chuck Clevenger here.  "Overhearing" your conversation, I couldn't help reflecting on how our graduates absorb some teaching from us, and then they follow Christ into jobs, mission fields, and opportunities we could never fill ourselves.  It's viral, in a way -- we share our lives with you, and you shaqre your lives (and our Lord) with people we could never have touched.  I covet for you the joy of serving for a generation, then watching your "disciples" multiply your faith (and in a sense, your presence) all over the world.

News:  DiCuirci and I have just finished our first joint recording.  We have formed a duo (our service at Gary's church last fall was our first gig) which we unimaginatively call "Brass & Ivory," and are beginning to schedule concerts here and there.

God bless you both.  Stay in touch.  Check out the conversation going on in the other thread also.

Keep the faith,
~Chuck