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A Boardman band director retires after 32 years
Assistant director’s last concert tonight
By Bruce Walton
Boardman
Steve Chambers, assistant director of the Boardman High School Wind Ensemble, rehearsed with the band Monday morning for the annual spring concert, leading with his baton to swiftly keep the tempo and direct the students.
It would be hard to tell that this is his last concert before retiring after 32 years at Boardman.
Tonight at 7, Chambers will direct his finale at Boardman High School in the Performing Arts Center after spending 32 years of his 35-year teaching career as a band director and music teacher for the school district.
“It means a lot to the community to have a good band and a good orchestra and a good choir. And it’s not always been easy, but that support has always been there,” he said. “And when you have that, you can do all kinds of stuff. It makes your job challenging because of their high expectations, but it’s very rewarding and I always appreciated that, and I never wanted to be anywhere else.”
He started at Boardman in 1984 and taught generations of students. Chambers has been a part of the BHS Band for a third of its existence.
Chambers said he stayed because of the amazing community support for the music program.
“Music is just special in Boardman,” he said. “It’s always been special in the community, and from the very first time I started there, I was just blown away by how important it is.”
Nico Ruggieri, a senior and Boardman High School Band president, said Chambers is like a second father to him, since working so closely with his father, Boardman Band Director Tom Ruggieri.
“His legacy will never be forgotten,” he said. “You’ll see it in all of his students, and he always got us to inspire others – just like he inspired us.”
Chambers also looked back on his fondest and proudest memories while with the Boardman district bands.
He recalled the Boardman Spartan Marching Band going to California in 1987 for the Rose Parade, and in 2004 when the Center Middle School eighth-grade band was invited to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association’s Professional Development Conference.
After this retirement, Chambers said he’s unsure of what to do but hopes to find something different from music or teaching.
Admission for the show tonight is $3 for adults, $2 for students and free for senior citizens.
Chambers lives in Howland with his wife, Eleanor, while his two children, David and Kathryn, attend college.