Photo courtesy of George Olson
Krueger band teacher George Olson is enjoying a long and successful career as a band teacher who finds creative ways to share his love of music.
KMS’ Olson born to be a band man
By Abby Killingbeck
Staff Writer
MICHIGAN CITY – Krueger’s George Olson was meant to be a band teacher from the very beginning.
When Olson, 58, was in high school, he played in a band and organized groups of his friends to play Christmas carols during the holiday season.
During Olson’s 30-year high school reunion, no one was surprised to hear he became a band teacher.
“Every one of them said, ‘Oh man, I’m so glad to hear that because that’s exactly what you should be doing,’” Olson said.
Olson has been teaching music and band for Michigan City Area Schools for 33 years now. Krueger chorus teacher Shirley Allen, who has known Olson for more than 30 years, said he has a very good understanding of middle school students.
“He is patient and knows how to teach an instrument,” Allen said. “He helps students become confident.”
Olson grew up in Chicago and Carpentersville, Ill., and has always been interested in music. He and his sister would put on little music shows for their parents.
He began playing saxophone in fifth grade and was a natural. He called his middle school, high school and college band directors an inspiration for him.
“I really enjoyed learning from them,” Olson said.
His high school band director told him he should go to college to get a teaching degree to fall back on.
“I didn’t fall back on it, I fell forward on it and made a career out of it,” he said.
Olson went to VanderCook College of Music, located a few blocks from where the Chicago White Sox play baseball.
He started teaching music with MCAS in August of 1990. He has taught at many schools around the district. He has taught every grade level and has taught jazz band, marching band, pep band and band classes.
Olson’s most memorable experience in all the time he has been teaching band was back in the early 2000s. It was a marching band event with a Latin theme. During the last song they played, students would come up to the middle of the field and play a solo.
Whenever a student was playing a solo the crowd was silent, and once the students finished the crowd would go wild. They especially went nuts for the drum solo of a high school senior.
“I guarantee every kid that was on that field and everyone who ever saw that show will never forget it,” Olson said.
When Olson worked at the high school, he had a jazz band event known as Olson’s Oasis. This event was Hawaiian themed, would have food and was like a dance party.
“I’ve always tried to make sure we have a good time and do something that the audience is really going to remember and enjoy, and that the kids will remember for a lifetime,” Olson said.
Alex Marroquin, an eighth grade tenor saxophonist, likes that Olson jokes around with his students.
“He’s a really nice guy,” Alex said.
Olson is really proud of the way the bands are playing this year. October was the first time the band performed at Krueger’s Haunted Halls. Olson also is happy with how the band sounded during One City One Sound.
“We represented Krueger very proudly,” he said. “I was very happy with that performance.”
Olson’s bands over the years have won silver and gold ratings. The band last year won a gold rating at a festival at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill.
“I’m really proud of that accomplishment, to just kind of have those things up and running,” Olson said. “Have a fun program for the kids to remember and enjoy while they’re here.”
Olson lives in Michigan City with his wife and dog, and still enjoys his job.
“If you love what you do you never have to work a day in your life,” he said.
His co-workers really love working with him and think he is a fun and creative guy. This includes Allen.
“We are so fortunate to have Mr. Olson on the staff at Krueger,” she said. “His personality adds so much to our school, and I feel like I am a better teacher and person by knowing him.”