On a Monday, July 13, Ben Rosier announced he would be leaving the Vicksburg Band program after nineteen years of setting the bar high for an expectation of excellence in one of the top band programs in the state of Michigan.
This is a program which has consistently earned award after award for the musicianship and level of advanced quality from each performance, whether it’s jazz, the Concert or Symphonic Bands, the Wind Ensemble, or the pride of the Vicksburg community, the Big Red Machine Marching Band.
This announcement of departure came just before the first marching band music rehearsal of the season, and left many people wondering what comes next. Though not the original plan for the season, the Big Red Machine keeps marching forward, thanks to the strong culture and positive attitude which has been built and maintained over nearly two decades of consistent leadership. It began when Vicksburg Community Schools hired Rosier from Three Rivers High School at the end of July in the summer of 2007, taking over for his predecessor, Dennis Kozian.
What are some favorite memories from your time as band director of the award-winning Big Red Machine?
The biggest and best memories are the relationships that I’ve formed with so many of the students and the families in the community. This community has embraced me, my values, and my morals, and what I believed in. And what I felt was most important in education. That’s my biggest takeaway in memory. Obviously, there have been memorable performances. There have been memorable trips; memorable things that have happened – events that were life-changing, that I’ll remember forever. Some of which, that if they’d have gone a different way, would have changed the trajectory of my life and many, many people’s lives around me.
What are some of your proudest achievements from your time with the band?
Building a reputation as a band program, in becoming one of the best in the state of Michigan and recognized regionally. As a standard of success and excellence. And knowing that my alumni would have enough pride to give back.
What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your career at Vicksburg?
I learned empathy. Which, God did not give me a strong gift of empathy. But one that I have learned, and had to learn. Patience. But also to teach the student where they’re at, and not just my expectations.
What are some of the core values or lessons that you hope all your students will remember, and keep in mind as they continue on their own journeys beyond the Vicksburg Band program?
Stay true to what you believe in, what you know is right, and make good choices.
What has the Vicksburg band community meant to you and your family over the years?
Just seeing some of the alums tonight, from before I had kids. Truly. Parenting by community. And to see my kids flourish. To see [the community] support my wife, when, when things were tough, when we were a young family. To see the teachers embrace my kids when it could have been easy to see them as just my kids. But they were their own person. That was special.
You have accepted the position of athletic director for the Lakeside High School Panthers in Evans, Georgia. This is a school of about 1,900 students, which is over twice the size of Vicksburg’s high school population. Lakeside’s school year begins August 4th. What does this change look like for you and your family, and what opportunities are you looking forward to in this season of change?
Yeah. Whirlwind of a couple weeks. Next week, my children are at orientations for all of their schools. And we haven’t even finished their enrollment yet. My [oldest] daughter will be connecting with all of the seniors down there, which they have reached out and been so welcoming. My [oldest] son will start playing football next week. My [youngest] daughter will start cheer. My [youngest] son will start tennis. My new job as an athletic director has already started rolling and the challenges are fresh and new. But managing a program is not new to me and I will cherish the new challenge, new facilities, newly renovated high school, and all that comes with that.
Do you have any advice or any message of encouragement you would like to leave for your successor?
Embrace the community, and they will embrace you. Love what you do. And they’ll love you for it.
Do you have any parting wishes, or have a final statement you would like to leave with the Vicksburg band community as you move on to this next chapter with your family?
Lots of incredible memories. And so many relationships that I have been so fortunate to be a part of. The trust… that has been entitled to me… Could never be repaid. So, an overwhelming thank you. I love Vicksburg.
Make good choices.
