Our Band Families nominated Ms. DeBauche for The SBO's Annual Directors Who Make A Difference Award.

Our community would like to nominate Ms. Karen DeBauche, hero to many, and Band Director at the Urbana Middle School in Urbana, Illinois, for the “Directors Who Make a Difference Award.” For nearly 30 years, Ms. DeBauche has transformed thousands of lives of students, their families, and our community. As Urbana School District #116 serves students from a broad range of multicultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, Ms. DeBauche has helped myriads of students reach their full potential through music education and her focus on the whole child. She has instilled hope and a standard of excellence across all populations of students at an age when students do not believe in themselves. 

Committed to making music education available to every student regardless of socioeconomic status, Ms. DeBauche raises funds to support students who cannot afford to rent or purchase an instrument. Her love for music and students has brought our community together and even helped us through many difficult times. Similar to many communities in the nation, Urbana has been affected by gun violence, immigration policy, and climate change. However, students know that when they experience fear and uncertainty, they can always come to the nurturing environment of Ms. DeBauche’s band room where they can feel safe and be themselves. Music education is truly a unifying foundation in Urbana, and Ms. Karen DeBauche has spent every moment of her music education career devoted to building this foundation one note at a time. We are very grateful for her legacy of service and firmly believe that she is well deserving of SBO’s annual "Directors Who Make a Difference Award.”

Submitted by

Kanittha Fay

Julia Guth

October, 31, 2019

What was your motivation to become a band teacher and director?                             

As a junior high and high school student my favorite class was band.  I looked up to my band directors who provided me with many opportunities to help other students and to grow my musical skills I went to college as an instrumental music education major.  During my senior year in college, I decided that there was no way that I could ever teach in a public school and didn’t have the personality to be a band director and went to graduate school in clarinet performance.  I moved to Urbana to begin my DMA at the UI and completed my coursework. I needed a job to pay for rent as I was studying for quals.  It must have been fate, because I found an advertisement for a job in the paper for a music aid position for the Urbana Schools.  I did that job for 2 years and realized how much I loved teaching! 

I started my teaching career in Urbana and was a member of the very first fine arts team.  Urbana is the only place I have ever taught!

30 Years.  All in Urbana.  Why would I go anywhere else?   I also worked as an aid in the music department for 2 years before that!

My major instrument is the clarinet and I’m proficient at the flute and keyboards. I can play to a reasonable level on all the instruments because that’s one of the fun things we get to do as a band director. The aspect I love most about music is being a part of something that is larger than myself. It’s an incredible gift to be able to share music with others and I am so fortunate to be able to do so as an educator and performer.   

My fondest memories are all associated with students and colleagues and there are far too many to list!   A couple that stand out are riding through the streets of Urbana on a school bus after we won the UI Superstate Festival.  (I’m pretty sure the entire town woke up!) Having a piece commissioned in honor of Gene Amberg and working with the composer.

Taking trips with students and getting to know them in a fun manner. 

I want to thank them for inspiring me to be the best I can be for Urbana students. Your support, friendship and hard work is one of the reasons Urbana has a successful band program!  This job would be impossible without you!    

I would tell them to support their students as they work hard on the skills of playing a band instrument.  Help them learn to be persistent and patient. Come to their concerts and encourage them in any way possible!  

For a newer band director, don’t be afraid to have high expectations for your students, they are craving that sense of accomplishment when they do something difficult.  Get to know your students (and their families) and be a safe place for them because band is like family.  Encourage your students to be thoughtful and considerate human beings.  It’s powerful!  Have fun!