A year after joining the faculty of the Swinney Conservatory of Music at Central Methodist University, Dr. Kara Metzger will depart to pursue an exciting new opportunity at her alma mater. Metzger, who served as the director of bands for CMU this academic year, has accepted the position of director of athletic bands at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

The Wisconsin native called the move back home “very bittersweet” and expressed how much her year at Central has meant to her, a sentiment mirrored by everyone who has gotten to know her throughout her brief time on campus.

“With Dr. Metzger’s departure, Central Methodist is losing a talented and energetic director who has left an impressive mark on the bands in a short amount of time,” said Dr. Roger Drake, president of the University. “While we’re sad to say goodbye to her, we are excited to see her chase her dreams, and we’re looking forward to the next chapter for the CMU bands.”

“The first year here has been nothing short of wonderful – so many great learning opportunities for me, as well as so many great experiences and memories I’ve made with the people here,” Metzger said. “It was the most welcoming environment that I could have ever asked for. The students are wonderful, the staff is wonderful, and it really made it a hard sell to leave.”

Ultimately, the sell for Metzger was to return to UWEC – where she earned her Bachelor of Music Education in 2016 – and lead the Blugold Marching Band, of which she’d been a member as a student. In her new role, she will be operating one of the largest marching bands in the country, as well as providing support for the other athletic bands. Metzger will also teach the marching band techniques course.

“I’m excited to be in the Wisconsin community again,” she said. “It’s a really great program. Of course, I am very sad to leave here, as Central is a phenomenal community for education and the arts.”

Central will miss Metzger as well, confirmed Dr. Melissa Simons, chair of the fine arts division, who called the outgoing director “a phenomenal colleague” who set an example of what the Conservatory leadership will be looking for in its next director of bands.

“All of the puzzle pieces were in place this year in the Conservatory,” said Simons. “All of us are going into this search knowing that we need to find another piece that fits.”

The search for the next director of bands is already underway, as Simons and other members of the music faculty look for a candidate with Metzger’s outgoing energy, creativity, and determination. After a year of success across the board for events like Band Day, the annual band tour, and various concerts, the Conservatory will hope to land a leader and educator whose passion for building connections and recruiting talented musicians will carry on.

“Our goal is finding somebody who will continue [Metzger’s efforts]. She’s done a great job establishing connections and meeting people this year,” said Simons.

The praise goes both ways, as Metzger cited Simons and predecessor Dori Waggoner ’92 as two of the people that have helped her most in developing the band program over the past year.

“They literally have helped me every step of the way, and there are so many other people that have helped me as well,” she said.

And while Metzger says she learned from her time at Central that every day leading a program can be “a whirlwind,” she has appreciated the opportunity to learn and grow through the small details and connections made throughout any given day, especially when it comes to the time-honored CMU band traditions.

“A lot of the wonderful traditions that take place here have been some of the most impactful components of the CMU band family,” she said. “There are so many traditions that are integrated into every facet of the marching and concert band program, and as someone new welcomed into these traditions, they have been a very special aspect to have been trusted with.”

All in all, Metzger will depart Central hoping she has contributed to the continued excellence of the band, as every director has done before her.

“I hope that the students know that they should follow their dreams and that their dreams are important,” she said. “And I hope that the standard stays the standard here at CMU, because everyone is so special. The band is so special here, and they will still achieve that, regardless of who is involved.”