2008 Woodie Awards
Professor Arthur Himmelberger: Marist's own Music Man
Ryan Schneider
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Features
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It was 20 years ago when Arthur Himmelberger walked into class to conduct his first band rehearsal and sitting before him were two trumpet players. Today, there is a 180 piece choir, 30 piece orchestra, 140 piece symphonic band, 50 person wind symphony, two flute choirs and a jazz band.
The music department is located on the first floor of the student center, but it is more like a basement than a first floor. It is set away from the rest of the campus, but it doesn't seem to bother Himmelberger at all.
He greets me with a smile on his face and a firm handshake. I follow him into one of the few classrooms within the department. His demeanor is intense, but laid back; he possesses a contagious energy. The second he starts to speak it is obvious he has a passion for his job.
Himmelberger was four years old when he was first introduced to music.
"My father was a Principal but he had always wanted to be a musician," he said, "I was weaned from the beginning to be the musician my father wasn't."
According to Himmelberger, he was playing professionally by the age of nine. He was a percussionist who could play anything from the drums to the xylophone. In fact, he was performing xylophone solos by the time he was 12.
Himmelberger's love for music carried him to the University of Michigan where he met William Revelli, who became one of his two great mentors along with his father.
"It has nothing to do with sports or music, but rather with how to live. My father and Revelli both taught me how to live," he said.
According to an article published in the "Michigan Today" written in 1994, William Revelli was a perfectionist to the highest degree. He is known as a legendary figure in American band. Himmelberger was fortunate to have him as a teacher.
"The lessons that I learned from Professor Revelli helped me to succeed in life," he said.
At the time of his graduation from Michigan, Himmelberger said he was aware of the possibility of being drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam and decided to join under his own terms.
The music department is located on the first floor of the student center, but it is more like a basement than a first floor. It is set away from the rest of the campus, but it doesn't seem to bother Himmelberger at all.
He greets me with a smile on his face and a firm handshake. I follow him into one of the few classrooms within the department. His demeanor is intense, but laid back; he possesses a contagious energy. The second he starts to speak it is obvious he has a passion for his job.
Himmelberger was four years old when he was first introduced to music.
"My father was a Principal but he had always wanted to be a musician," he said, "I was weaned from the beginning to be the musician my father wasn't."
According to Himmelberger, he was playing professionally by the age of nine. He was a percussionist who could play anything from the drums to the xylophone. In fact, he was performing xylophone solos by the time he was 12.
Himmelberger's love for music carried him to the University of Michigan where he met William Revelli, who became one of his two great mentors along with his father.
"It has nothing to do with sports or music, but rather with how to live. My father and Revelli both taught me how to live," he said.
According to an article published in the "Michigan Today" written in 1994, William Revelli was a perfectionist to the highest degree. He is known as a legendary figure in American band. Himmelberger was fortunate to have him as a teacher.
"The lessons that I learned from Professor Revelli helped me to succeed in life," he said.
At the time of his graduation from Michigan, Himmelberger said he was aware of the possibility of being drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam and decided to join under his own terms.
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