Perryville High School band to perform new composition in honor of late band teacher

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – The Perryville High School band will perform a new composition called “Good Morning” in honor of the late Eric Seibel.

Seibel retired from District #32 but continued to support the music programs and work with band students through the years and in the surrounding area.

Jerry Childers commissioned this piece in Seibel’s memory.

It was composed by Dr. John Prescott, music professor at Missouri State University. Seibel’s wife, who also retired from the school district and continues to help with choir students, will be in attendance for the concert held on April 23, 2024 in honor of Seibel.

“My first thoughts were this is going to be a real challenge because these two melodies are very different from each other and I don’t know how exactly how to connect them,” said John Prescott, professor of music theory and composition at Missouri State University. “But I wrote down some sketches from both of the ideas and then a couple of days later I woke up at 2 o’clock in the morning with the answer in my head.”

“I can see how influential Mr. Seibel was on the community, also the band program and so many students. I could tell that this need to be kind of a heroic piece in many ways,” said Prescott. “It’s been a real pleasure working with the band, with Mr. Childers and with Mrs. Seibel to come up with something that would be appropriate to commemorate the work that Eric did for the band and the community.”

Director Jerry Childers announced Friday that he has also extended an invitation to country singer and song writer, Chris Jansen, former Perryville High School graduate, and band member under Eric Seibel’s direction, to perform with the band for the song. No reply has been made by Jansen yet.

Childers says he also wants to extend an invitation to all former band members to come to the concert in memory of Seibel.