Everybody’s Got a Story Band Edition: Eureka

EUREKA, Ill — Todd Stalter has spent all of his life in central Illinois.

“It doesn’t take long to kind of figure out where you fit and what feels like home,” Eureka Band Director Todd Stalter said.

Stalter went to school at Eureka High, got his college degree at Illinois State and then in 1990, came back to his hometown to be the Eureka Band Director.

“I heard this job was open and applied for it and got an interview and I was one of the final three candidates, and they decided to choose me,” Stalter said.

The rest is history. In his 34 years of doing it, Stalter never once thought about leaving.

“I’ve had people call me and talk about you should interview for our job that’s open or whatever. I’ve never taken those opportunities because I’m very happy,” Stalter said.

Stalter embodies what it means to be a part of the Eureka community. His students mean everything to him.

“I don’t just teach band here. I teach general music from kindergarten through 6th grade, and I also teach music appreciation through ICC here at the high school. So, most of the students in my band, I’ve known since they were 5, it is truly a unique thing,” Stalter said.

“He is an incredible teacher. I’m lucky enough to say that I had him since kindergarten. My entire time at Eureka, all through school, I’ve had him,” senior trumpet player Grace Neukomm said.

“He just cares about us so deeply. He remembers everyone. He remembers everything about our lives, and he asks about our personal lives. It’s nice to have an adult at school who I feel like I can always trust to be there for me,” senior clarinet section leader Ciarra Abel said.

Neukomm and Abel know since this is Stalter’s last group ever, they’re trying to send him out with a bang.

“I’m incredibly lucky to be a part of this class. I think it’s helping me push more for this marching band season. It’s very sad, but it’s sentimental to me because he has had such an influence on my life,” Neukomm said.

“He always puts us first and puts the band first because he really hasn’t talked about his plans after. He said right now it’s about you guys. He has been selfless and humble with all of that, Abel said.

As the days grow less in the remainder of his career, Stalter will say goodbye knowing he left his mark.

“Every teacher’s legacy is their students. I hope to continue to live in their memory when they make music and look back on their high school years and they remember their time in band and the experiences we had together that sense of community is really what I would like my legacy to be,” Stalter said.

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