Remembering the legacy of “The Music Man” in Northeast Wisconsin

DE PERE — A big a part of De Pere’s rising music and humanities scene might be attributed to at least one man, often called the music man, and his household.

Dudley Birder started as a music professor at St. Norbert School in 1958. In 1974 he based the Dudley Birder Chorale on the school that introduced singers collectively from all throughout Northeast Wisconsin.

“It is this massive neighborhood choir a whole lot of St. Norbert alumni and St. Norbert college students, however 150 singers,” mentioned Kent Paulsen.

Kent Paulsen is the present director of the chorale and changed Birder after 44 years in command of the group. He says that Birder’s influence goes far past his quite a few accolades.

“I believe really the lasting legacy, I used to be eager about that at this time as simply all of the those that he acquired to know that simply shared his love of what he was doing with them,” mentioned Paulsen.

Paulsen mentioned he moved to De Pere within the 90’s and acquired to know Birder after he auditioned.

“I auditioned for him in 1995 but it surely required dance after which he referred to as me the subsequent yr and mentioned, nicely, son, you possibly can’t dance, however I would love so that you can come and sing and act and be part of that,” mentioned Paulsen.

Paulsen mentioned that Birder turned a mentor to him as he labored alongside the music man for many years after. What stood out to Paulsen was simply how passionate Birder was for his job and the way it rubbed off on these round him.

“I believe Dudley beloved the those that he labored with as a lot as he beloved the music,” mentioned Paulsen.

As for the teachings discovered working alongside such an achieved mentor, he mentioned that there is one factor he’ll all the time take with him.

“It is one thing about if you happen to discover what you’re keen on, simply lean into it and simply like it all you possibly can and be surrounded by those that love doing these issues with you,” mentioned Paulsen.

Down the street on the Birder Studio, Dudley’s daughter Alicia is the manager director of the Dudley Birder Studio of Performing Arts. She says that rising up with a father like Dudley introduced her into the thrill of theater and music.

“Our whole household went to rehearsals with him from after we had been infants on, and my mom mom would take us due to course we could not afford a babysitter,” mentioned Birder.

She mentioned that she all the time knew she had huge sneakers to fill being a Birder concerned within the performing arts, however her father all the time helped her by the hardest of instances.

“He advised me as soon as, I’d by no means put you ready to fail,” mentioned Birder.

She says what stands proud probably the most is simply how huge of an influence he is had on the area and in De Pere.

“He is actually put a stupendous imprint on this neighborhood and touched many in a beautiful means,” mentioned Birder.