Tell us briefly about who you are and how music is a part of your current daily life.
My name is Kirk Vogel and I am a 1975 graduate of Baldwin High School. I am married to Susan (we just celebrated our 30th anniversary) and we have two grown daughters, Erin and Kayley. I love the outdoors and spend much of my time hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or concentrating on outdoor photography. I have lived in Colorado since 1979 and currently live in Greeley after living in Durango, Palisade and Denver. I taught music for 33 years in public schools in Denver, Palisade and Bayfield (near Durango) before teaching for 26 years at Heath Middle School in Greeley. Since the age of 14 I have had an interest in composition and started writing band and orchestra music in my late 20’s. Now, I write music every day. That is what takes up most of my working time (I retired from teaching in 2013). I have music published by Alfred Music, Grand Mesa Music, Kjos Music, Southern Music and my own publishing company, Wilderness Impressions Music (WI Music).
How were you first introduced to music?
I grew up in a musical household. My mother played piano (and still does) and my father played violin. Both of my parents also sang. I had two older brothers that played that played trumpet and flute so it was fitting that my younger brother and I would play music instruments. I started on clarinet in 6th grade at Highlands Elementary School (Baldwin-Whitehall School District). By 9th grade I was learning saxophone, flute, guitar and piano.
Tell us about a person/event that was particularly influential to you in your growth as a musician?
My mother – When I was in 6th grade she bought some music books (Play a Song of America) so that the whole family could play music together. We would gather around the piano and play through the music. This showed me how much fun music could be.
Randy Purcell – Jazz trombonist for the Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Pittsburgh native. Randy showed up to one of the Baldwin HS jazz band rehearsals (1974-75) and taught us about improvisation. I still use his words and methods that I learned that day when I teach jazz improvisation.
Ken Singleton – As an arranger of over 2,000 compositions for Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble, Ken has been a mentor to me as I have developed as a composer.
What did you gain from your study of music at BWSD that has had a positive impact on your career? On you as a person?
I received a good, strong foundation of music from my music teachers in the BWSD and because I moved a couple times (away from Pittsburgh and back to Pittsburgh) I had many teachers!
6th Grade – Highlands Elementary, BWSD – Mr. Gump
7-8th Grade – Wallace Junior High, BWSD – Mr. Heilman
9th Grade – Mackenzie HS, Deep River, Ontario Mr. Allen
10th Grade – Mackenzie HS, Deep River, Ontario Mr. DeBoer
11th Grade – Baldwin High School, BWSD – Mr. Gump
12th Grade – Baldwin High School, BWSD – Mr. Huckle
All of these teachers not only gave me a strong foundation of music but also instilled in me a love for music so that when I went away to college (to become a chemical engineer) it was music that I kept being drawn toward. Sophomore year I changed my major, junior year I transferred to a different college and then after college I moved to Colorado. My studying music in the BWSD helped shape what was to become a career in music.
Why is it important to study music?
Why study music? To experience joy, to experience beauty, to create something, to have fun, to laugh, to cry, to be a member of a group where synergy is evident on a daily basis, to know that working at something produces grand results, to develop a lifelong skill that will bring you comfort when you are lonely and bring you happiness when you are with others and to bring you knowledge, understanding and abilities that will open doors to activities and relationships that will become available to you throughout your life.
My name is Kirk Vogel and I am a 1975 graduate of Baldwin High School. I am married to Susan (we just celebrated our 30th anniversary) and we have two grown daughters, Erin and Kayley. I love the outdoors and spend much of my time hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or concentrating on outdoor photography. I have lived in Colorado since 1979 and currently live in Greeley after living in Durango, Palisade and Denver. I taught music for 33 years in public schools in Denver, Palisade and Bayfield (near Durango) before teaching for 26 years at Heath Middle School in Greeley. Since the age of 14 I have had an interest in composition and started writing band and orchestra music in my late 20’s. Now, I write music every day. That is what takes up most of my working time (I retired from teaching in 2013). I have music published by Alfred Music, Grand Mesa Music, Kjos Music, Southern Music and my own publishing company, Wilderness Impressions Music (WI Music).
How were you first introduced to music?
I grew up in a musical household. My mother played piano (and still does) and my father played violin. Both of my parents also sang. I had two older brothers that played that played trumpet and flute so it was fitting that my younger brother and I would play music instruments. I started on clarinet in 6th grade at Highlands Elementary School (Baldwin-Whitehall School District). By 9th grade I was learning saxophone, flute, guitar and piano.
Tell us about a person/event that was particularly influential to you in your growth as a musician?
My mother – When I was in 6th grade she bought some music books (Play a Song of America) so that the whole family could play music together. We would gather around the piano and play through the music. This showed me how much fun music could be.
Randy Purcell – Jazz trombonist for the Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Pittsburgh native. Randy showed up to one of the Baldwin HS jazz band rehearsals (1974-75) and taught us about improvisation. I still use his words and methods that I learned that day when I teach jazz improvisation.
Ken Singleton – As an arranger of over 2,000 compositions for Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble, Ken has been a mentor to me as I have developed as a composer.
What did you gain from your study of music at BWSD that has had a positive impact on your career? On you as a person?
I received a good, strong foundation of music from my music teachers in the BWSD and because I moved a couple times (away from Pittsburgh and back to Pittsburgh) I had many teachers!
6th Grade – Highlands Elementary, BWSD – Mr. Gump
7-8th Grade – Wallace Junior High, BWSD – Mr. Heilman
9th Grade – Mackenzie HS, Deep River, Ontario Mr. Allen
10th Grade – Mackenzie HS, Deep River, Ontario Mr. DeBoer
11th Grade – Baldwin High School, BWSD – Mr. Gump
12th Grade – Baldwin High School, BWSD – Mr. Huckle
All of these teachers not only gave me a strong foundation of music but also instilled in me a love for music so that when I went away to college (to become a chemical engineer) it was music that I kept being drawn toward. Sophomore year I changed my major, junior year I transferred to a different college and then after college I moved to Colorado. My studying music in the BWSD helped shape what was to become a career in music.
Why is it important to study music?
Why study music? To experience joy, to experience beauty, to create something, to have fun, to laugh, to cry, to be a member of a group where synergy is evident on a daily basis, to know that working at something produces grand results, to develop a lifelong skill that will bring you comfort when you are lonely and bring you happiness when you are with others and to bring you knowledge, understanding and abilities that will open doors to activities and relationships that will become available to you throughout your life.
