PERRYVILLE – A beloved band director will be honored posthumously as Perryville High School Alumni Association’s 2024 Distinguished Alumnus during PHS Homecoming on Oct. 19. Mr. Eric Seibel, who passed away in June 2023, was a music instructor at Perry County School District 32 for more than 25 years. He retired in 2010, but continued to volunteer and substitute teach until his death.
Mr. Seibel attended grade school at Immanuel Lutheran and was a 1965 graduate of Perryville High School. During his time at PHS, he was a member of the PHS Marching Band and the Junior Engineering and Technological Society. He earned his undergraduate degree at Southeast Missouri State University, his graduate degree at Central Missouri State University, and postgraduate studies at Northeast State University (Truman).
He was a band director for 42 years, with the majority of his career spent teaching and mentoring young musicians at Perryville High School. He taught at several schools in Missouri, most recently at United in Christ Lutheran School in Frohna. His love of music and students was demonstrated through his high standards, endless patience, and encouraging words to pursue their personal best in music and life. He was known for greeting one and all with a hearty “Good Morning!” regardless of the time of day and is fondly remembered for his love of “dad” jokes. He was the director of the Men’s Choir at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He was also a staff member of Missouri Ambassadors of Music, an organization that leads high school musicians on a tour of Europe while also performing concerts.
He and his wife Janet were married for 37 years. Janet, also a retired music educator at the district, is a 2024 PHS Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal along with Mr. Bill Fischer, who worked with Mr. Seibel for 30 years. Mr. and Mrs. Seibel have one daughter, Martha, who is an Elementary Music Specialist at Concordia International School in Shanghai, China.
In April, the PHS Band held the debut performance of a commissioned composition in honor of Mr. Seibel. The new composition, “Good Morning!” was commissioned by current PHS Band Director Jerry Childers in honor of Mr. Seibel’s life and career. It was composed by Dr. John Prescott of Missouri State University. Dedicated to Mr. Seibel’s joyful nature, dedication to music education and students, and his impact on the community, “Good Morning!” combined two of Mr. Seibel’s favorite melodies. It incorporates his favorite hymn “‘Lord Thee I Love With All My Heart’ and the PHS fight song. The concert was attended by family and friends, and many former students and teaching colleagues.
Mr. Seibel will be honored during the 2024 PHS Homecoming Grand Marshal and Distinguished Alumnus Reception, which begins at 10:30 am Saturday, Oct. 19 in the Old Senior High School. At 11 am, a brief program will be held to present the Grand Marshal and Distinguished Alumnus plaques. Refreshments will be served. All PHS Alumni and the community are invited to attend.