“It was a very difficult, professional opportunity,” Mr. Burke said.

Mr. Burke has been teaching at Edgewood for 15 years, so he’s had a couple rounds of students from 9th through 12th grade. Four years with the same students brings the opportunity to become close to the students, while still maintaining a professional relationship.

“Music students come together like family. Just being able to work with those students, I know those students, and next year, I’ll have to start all over,” Mr. Burke said.

But aside from actually teaching class, Burke is involved in the band trips, marching band, music festivals, the band spring picnic, the marching band lock-in, and the band concerts.

“I have mixed emotions. It’s always sad to see someone go, but you don’t want to discourage an opportunity when the chance comes,” Mrs. Stevens said.

As for next year, the school is still in the process of trying to find someone who has the school’s best interest at heart.

“Anytime you have a program when you have a person in there for a while, there’s going to be some transition. The kids are going to be part of how well that works or doesn’t [work]. The new person is going to do things different, and students are going to fight that. They make up the band. A coach can’t coach without a team. If they want to be good musicians they can if they try,” Mr. Burke said.

When Mr. Burke starts next year, he will be beginning with ninth and tenth graders. Patterson Mill will not be starting with a full school, so Mr. Burke will have the chance to do some administrative work as well.

“I really don’t think about what I’m doing and what it’s doing for me. I try to give students their best experience,” Mr. Burke said.

Right now, Mr. Burke teaches two band classes, two percussion classes, beginning piano, and living in a contemporary world, in which the students belong to the band.