After 33 years teaching in the same classroom at Stonybrook Middle School, formerly Steinbach Junior High, band teacher Murray Lawrence has announced his retirement.

Over 2,500 students have come through his classroom and Lawrence says he started teaching in the fall of 1982 adding he wanted to purchase more instruments but his dad told him it was about time he started making an income. He notes he never thought he would teach junior high but has enjoyed each and every year.

"Grade 7 and 8, especially Grade 8, that's the year the major shift in a person happens. That's the year everybody says 'start acting like an adult' but nobody has ever said 'here, this is what an adult acts like.' But I've been so blessed with, just, year after year after year of kids who are really keen on excelling and growing and learning. I can't say that enough."

One former student, now the Steinbach Regional Secondary School band teacher for the past 16 years, Mark Loewen says Lawrence was an inspiration for him to play the trumpet when he was younger and to become a teacher after high school. Loewen notes Lawrence was not only his first band teacher but also his first private trumpet teacher who taught him not only how to play but also to love the sound of the instrument.

"I wanted to play the trumpet and I wanted to make a living at it. So, I went through high school and university with that in mind. But then there's always this thing in the back of my mind, could I also teach. Teaching is a wonderful job, and Mr. Lawrence modeled that. The roots that he put down in Steinbach, and had, I think, just a successful model life here in town doing something that he loves. So that was part of my inspiration to get into teaching."

Superintendent Rick Ardies says there is a remarkable legacy he will be leaving behind.

"He's been able to instill a love of music, and a love of learning, and a love of people into the hearts of so many people. So many of his former students have gone on to become musicians and to become music educators, and now, all around Hanover School Division there are graduates of Murray's band program. It's really remarkable."

Lawrence says, as far as music goes, not much has changed in the last 33 years. However, he adds he has seen a shift in family dynamics with more split homes, in 1982 there were cassette tapes and reel-to-reels whereas today much is digital. Lawrence says he hopes over his career he has become smarter, more efficient and more patient.

He notes his ultimate goal in teaching band was to give students the same kind of inspiring and engaging musical experiences he had growing up. Loewen notes it's sad to see Lawrence go after all he has done for the band program at Stonybrook Middle School and part-time at SRSS for the past two years adding it's been a great experience to work with the teacher who inspired his own career path.

"We've had many great conversations about pedagogy and how to run a band program, how to teach a kid how to play the oboe, or how to run a trombone section. We've had so many conversations that have been, for me, very beneficial. I've learned a ton, especially in these last two years from Murray, it's been, I think, great for me and, as a result, great for this program."

Loewen adds Lawrence has also shown him how to build relationships with the students and get them excited about making music, something he hopes to add to the list of things he'll be taking away from his time with Lawrence. Marcus Goertzen will be taking over Lawrence's position at Stonybrook Middle School in the fall.

Lawrence notes it was a logical time for him to make a career change and will be scheduling time to work with kids and groups to share what kind of approaches and knowledge he has acquired throughout the years.