| Graduation Year | Faculty |
| Date of Passing | Oct 13, 2011 |
| About | The late George Towslee used to tell a story about his father, Cecil, who was superintendent of Brunswick Schools. George and his high school buddies were so excited when Cecil told them they were getting a teacher who played first base for Cincinnati. But %uFFFDbase%uFFFD was actually %uFFFDbass%uFFFD and Albert M. Sego came to be the first music teacher and band director in Brunswick in 1948. Mr. Sego was band director in Brunswick from 1948 until 1976 %uFFFD a very long gig indeed. Mr. Sego died Oct. 13, two months shy of his 98th birthday. He was in his own apartment in an assisted living facility in Williamsburg where his son and daughter-in-law, Mickey and Arlene Sego live and own an art gallery. Sego was born in Cleveland on Dec. 28, 1913 . He and his wife, Marie, were married for 53 years. She died in 1990. After graduating from Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1936 he began his teaching career in Louisville, Ky, arriving just in time for the great Ohio River flood of early 1937, which destroyed the school at which he was teaching, bringing a transfer to an all-girls high school. There he developed an orchestra that won many state championships. In addition to teaching he played every Sunday morning for a local radio station and when the Louisville Symphony Orchestra was first created he was named the principal string bass. He was able to return to the Cleveland area when a teaching opportunity presented itself in Medina County. As an employee of the county he traveled to different schools, including Brunswick. When Brunswick could afford a full-time music teacher, Superintendent Towslee told Mr. Sego that he didn%uFFFDt know anything about music, but that Al did, so %uFFFDtell me what you need.%uFFFD (Towslee used to frequent sales of government surplus and on occasion would return with brand new, never played, tubas, clarinets, saxophones and even more, much to the surprise and delight of his only instrumental music teacher!) At that time there were very few students in the school system so as elementary schools were built he began visiting all of them, where he gave music lessons, starting with fourth-graders. With limited school budgets the music program had to devise ways of raising funds to expand the program to purchase band uniforms, instruments and music. At first there were fish fries, candy sales and tag sales. As more and more parents became involved the Band Boosters organization was established. Probably the most successful and long-lived fundraiser for the Boosters was the annual horse show every Labor Day weekend. This was a sanctioned event for show horses. Since this was one of the last events of the season for riders and total points were of great importance to them, there always were many participants. Every year the Boosters took responsibility for setting up and disassembling the food tents, show ring and parking facilities needed for the show. In between shows each year equipment and supplies were stored in barns provided for free by Booster volunteers. Over the years the Brunswick High School Band marched in community parades, performed at football games and participated in Band-O-Rama, a term coined by Mr. Sego. Among innovations for halftime band shows at football games were the use of %uFFFDblack light%uFFFD in a darkened stadium, fireworks on occasion and themed shows such as a bull-fight where Papier Mache bulls were center stage, accompanied by the latest marching routines. No two home show routines were ever the same. Mr. Sego believed that the mission of the band was to provide a variety of musical performances for the public. In addition to seasonal concerts the band had %uFFFDpop%uFFFD concerts where the music went beyond the usual band fare to a blend of light classics, Broadway and contemporary offerings. There also were musicals such as %uFFFDWest Side Story%uFFFD and %uFFFDFiddler on the Roof%uFFFD with the pit orchestra mostly a pit band, in collaboration with the vocal teacher. He established the annual Festival of the Bands in 1965 where all of the Brunswick Schools bands (sixth through 12th) come together for a mass concert. Again, this followed his philosophy that musicians should perform in public for their benefit as well as the enjoyment of the audience. The article about the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Bands in 1990 said that the combined bands were so large they occupied the entire gymnasium floor at the high school. Sego was the guest conductor for the 25th; as a matter of fact this was the last time he conducted a band since he had retired 14 years before. In addition to Brunswick school activities, Mr. Sego performed with a variety of dance and Dixieland bands, playing his string bass throughout Greater Cleveland for many years, even after he retired in 1976. In his retirement many of his former students (including some from Louisville) kept in touch with him, writing, calling and even visiting him in Williamsburg where he had lived since 1998. Mr. Sego%uFFFDs legacy can be found in the thousands of students who participated in the Brunswick High School Band. Some of those students from around the country have responded to the news of his passing. Rhonda Berken said, %uFFFDI was just thinking of him last night There was a radio program on our NPR station about the importance of music in children%uFFFDs lives. I remember being, maybe 14, and crying after one of our performances because of all the little pieces coming together to making some beautiful, and to me at the time, perfect. He did have a way of pulling the best out of us even when we didn%uFFFDt think we had it to give. Dennis Bierman, who is a professional musician, said, %uFFFDRest in peace Mr. Sego. Thanks for all the music lessons. They have done me well. Ken Erman added, %uFFFDI was just thinking of him today. He insisted that I should be a better person than I wanted to be.%uFFFD Lynda Moody-Kopecks said, %uFFFDI will never forget playing %uFFFDOverture 1812%uFFFD in 1975. Amber St. Clair Dalakas said, %uFFFDBand was the best part of high school.%uFFFD County Commissioner Steve Hambley added, %uFFFDHe was one of the most influential teachers in my life. Al Sego once told me that successful people are busy people but not too busy to get the important things done. That is why they are succesful. I will never forget that. .God bless Al Sego and his family.%uFFFD Finally, Brunswick teacher Tom Rounds shared his memories. %uFFFDHave such respect for Mr. Sego %uFFFD good memories! Opening pre-show marching in the shape of a B. He even took it upon himself to make sure we knew how to do ballroom dances before Dancing With the Stars was popular. |
