Michael Walta is finally getting his chance to be a band director.
After spending the past 14 years as Loy Studer’s assistant director at Rider, Walta recently was assigned Memorial High School’s head band director.
“Working with Mr. Studer has helped prepare me to be a head director,” Walta said. “He has been a great leader and colleague and has shown me what it takes to be a head director.”
“I am so fired up for him, we have worked together for 14 years and I love that guy like a family member,” Studer said.
Starting his interest in music in the first grade playing the piano and expanding into the trombone in the fifth grade. However, Walta did not think he would have music become his career.
“I took computer programming classes and thought I was going to major in computer science,” Walta said. “As I got closer to graduation, I realized how much I would miss being involved in music and that is when I decided to become a band director.”
Both of the directors are excited and overjoyed. Not only is Walta proud of his new position, but Studer is proud of Walta as well, saying he’s earned the opportunity and put in the time for it.
“I usually do not show a lot of emotion, but I was jumping up and down, fist-bumping,” Studer said. “I spent a lot of that day just so excited that he is getting that chance and I am excited he gets to be at Memorial because that is where his kids are going to go and I am excited for his family.”
“When I found out, I was so excited that I was shaking,” Walta said. “I immediately called my wife to let her know the good news and I could not stop smiling for the rest of the day.”
Wanting to share his excitement and joy with music with the new students, Walta is ready to continue as a music educator.
“I am looking forward to being able to continue that journey with a new group of students and hopefully build something special,” Walta said.
With it being a brand new school, not everything will be easy.
From starting from scratch to everything needing to be ready and merging kids from all three high schools who were all taught different techniques, there will be many obstacles to overcome.
There’s also the age-old tradition of producing each school’s fight song and alma mater, which are played at football games and pep rallies.
Studer and Walta do have input on those important music pieces, but it’s not completely up to them.
“The students and directors from around the district have had the opportunity to give their input as well,” Walta said. “WFISD has hired a composer who is from our area to write them and I know they will both be great.”
