After more than three decades as director of bands and instructor of saxophone at North Central College, Dr. Larry Van Oyen has taken the final bow of his career.
He conducted the Concert Winds Spring Concert on Saturday at Wentz Concert Hall, greeted by a standing ovation.
From music degree beginnings to final concert
When Van Oyen took the job 33 years ago, North Central no longer had a music education degree. Along with his colleagues, Van Oyen helped restart the music program.
“The people that I work with are really, really wonderful. They make it fun to come to work,” Van Oyen said.
Remembering his students
The memories that Van Oyen will take with him as he retires are those with his students.
“They really did help me grow and help me change. The other schools I was at, my job was to put on a concert. Here we put on a performance, and music means much more to the students, because we can talk about it at a real different level, and they respond so well, you can’t help but stay excited about music yourself,” said Van Oyen.
Van Oyen is most proud of the college’s annual Chords for Kids concert, a free performance for kids with special needs and their families.
“The band just does wonderful things. They dance. We play a Spider-Man piece. I had somebody dress up like Spider-Man. And then at our last concert, I think we had five Spider-Men,” said Van Oyen. “They’re so enthusiastic about playing for the kids. It really changes the way you look at music when you see the way that kids interact with the band. The kids come up at the end, and they conduct the band for a phrase, and we get a picture of them conducting.”
Van Oyen’s retirement honored at Saturday’s concert
North Central celebrated Van Oyen’s retirement at the end of the concert.
North Central President Dr. Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá spoke of the impact of Van Oyen’s career.
Senator Laura Ellman made a proclamation from the Illinois State Senate, recognizing Van Oyen for “the joy, the music, that you have brought into the world and brought into the lives of these students and Naperville.”
North Central gifted Van Oyen a Jenga set, symbolizing the necessity of each of his students in the band. Students, faculty, and staff each signed a Jenga block with their name and a memory with the instructor.
Music follows Van Oyen into retirement
In his retirement, Van Oyen will keep busy woodworking, painting, and playing his saxophone.
“It’s a strange feeling, because I really don’t plan to do much conducting after the concert. I’m looking forward to some of the things I want to do when I’m retired, but directing bands, it’s been part of me for pretty much half my life now,” Van Oyen said.
Leaving a musical legacy of note, for the students he taught along the way.
“Dr. Van Oyen not only teaches us how to perform, but how each individual person helps create a community that works toward making the music ours,” one student said.
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