In May, Pride alumni Jeff Jahnke, who has served as Assistant Director of Bands for the past three academic years, announced his resignation in a letter to members of the 2008 Pride of Oklahoma. An excerpt:

This spring semester I had some things go on in my life that really made me think a lot about what I should be doing and how short a person’s opportunities can be to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Over the past few weeks an opportunity has presented itself to my family that will enable me enter back into the high school public education world and teach those things that I spoke of earlier on a daily basis. It’s what I love to do and it’s what, when I look in the mirror, I think I should be doing.

I have accepted a position as the high school band director and Director of Fine Arts for the Lovejoy Independent School District in Lucas, Texas. It is a district just outside of Allen. I am very excited about the opportunity there but at the same time I am very sad to be leaving a place that I love so much and a group of people who I admire so much. The University of Oklahoma and its band department means so much to me. The people who wear its uniforms and represent this place mean even more. I cannot thank you enough for letting me stand in front of you on a daily basis. As much as I was one of your band directors I was even more one of your students. I have learned so much from you and will never forget the things that you have done for me, and my family

In another letter that same day, Brian Britt said (in part):

We have been truly fortunate to have Jeff Jahnke serve as Assistant Director of Bands for the past three years. His tireless efforts in service to the student members of our band program have been truly inspirational and the entire program is better due to his outstanding teaching and his administrative skills. Mr. Jahnke has been a great friend to our program and a fantastic colleague. Over the past three years, he, Carrie, and Sarah have become a part of our family and we have been blessed to count them as our friends. We will miss the Jahnke family very much as they leave us to pursue this new opportunity for their family.

The students at Lovejoy High School are getting a phenomenal teacher, effective administrator, and a passionate leader in Jeff Jahnke. I am excited for them and look forward to seeing and hearing what those children are able to accomplish under his leadership.

Jeff contributed a lot to the band department over the past three years and I hate to see him go, but I’m really happy for his opportunity to do those things he both loves and excels at doing. Other than “won the lottery,” it’s just about the best possible reason to say goodbye.

A week later, Brian announced the Interim Assistant Director of Bands for the 2009-2010 academic year: Debra Traficante, whom many of you may have met during the past two years at Homecoming, as she’s been a graduate assistant with the band department. Here’s Brian again:

Mrs. Traficante has been serving as a Doctoral Conducting Associate the past two years and has done outstanding work throughout the band program in that capacity. Prior to coming to OU, Mrs. Traficante served the University of Florida Bands for two years as a graduate teaching assistant while earning her Master’s degree in conducting. She has also held positions as a high school band director in the State of Florida, including a three-year stint as the head band director at New Smyrna Beach High School. While at New Smyrna Beach High School, Mrs. Traficante was the Head Director of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Bands, Marching Band, and various Percussion ensembles. She also founded the schools first Visual Ensemble, Steel Drum Ensemble, and Tri-M Music Honors Society.

Graduate students usually come from other universities so they can get broader experience—even Roland Barrett got his degree in Nebraska (and was director of two high school bands there) before coming to OU in 1983 for graduate work. Debra faced the ultimate football fan conflict this past season: she earned her master’s degree at Florida where she was with the “Pride of the Sunshine” Fightin’ Gator Marching Band, and then had to face a Florida vs. Oklahoma BCS National Championship football game in Miami. That would just make me weep for weeks.

After that, she got through a foot injury, and took the Women’s Basketball Band to the NCAA Final Four just a few months later. She knows the program and is an excellent choice for the upcoming academic year.

Congratulations to Jeff Jahnke in his new position (you can click on his name to send him E-mail) and to Debra Traficante in hers. Change always makes me a little bit uneasy, but I think these folks are going to do well.