Retirement gathering held for Bauches

The Farmington Band Boosters, students past and present, community members and former collegues came to say “happy retirement to Kurt and Sue Bauche on Sunday at Farmington High School.

For three hours the group took a trip through the past 30 years of teaching and being involved in the community. There were 30 years of memories captured in photos pasted up on the walls of the high school cafeteria to help with the trip down memory lane.

Kurt’s teaching responsibilities have included marching band, symphonic band, concert band and jazz band. He has been a presenter for in-service activities in the Farmington School District, and served as a chairperson for the North Central Evaluation and Missouri School Improvement Review.

Under his direction, the Farmington High School Symphonic Band has annually received superior “one” ratings at the MSHAA Evaluative Music Festival. Bauche is a past co-coordinator for marching bands at the MSHAA Show-Me Bowl at the Edward Jones Dome for the state high school football championships. The band was also the sweepstake award winner at the Worlds of Fun Festivals of Music competition in 2006 and at a Music In The Parks competition in 2007.

Sue’s teaching responsibilities included Knight’s Choir, Knightingales Women’s Choir, Men’s Chorus, Choraliers, Fundamentals of Music, and A Capella choir.

She is also the director of the Farmington Memorial United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and worship leader for the traditional service. She just finished her 15th year as director of choirs in the Farmington R-VII School District, having previously taught for 15 years at West County R-IV Schools.

The Bauches retired from the Farmington school district at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.