Mr. Shuttleworth's opus?

FORT RECOVERY - In his 22 years as Fort Recovery High School band director, Ted Shuttleworth touched the lives of thousands of students.

And now, those students have given back to their mentor.

Shuttleworth, who switched from band director to middle school principal in 1998, will be debuting a song created just for him in August at VanTrees Park, Fort Recovery. His former band students have donated nearly $1,000 to pay for the song to be composed.

"He inspired me to become a music teacher," said Tracy Hein Evers, choir director and music teacher for Fort Recovery Schools. After Shuttleworth retired as principal of Fort Recovery Middle School earlier this year, Evers decided to have the song composed for her former band teacher. "It's just one way of honoring that person who has made a difference ... in so many lives," she said.

"We just feel like it's the perfect way to pay tribute to a guy who's influenced hundreds of lives," said Dan Zehringer, who is helping with the project.

The song is being written by Steven Winteregg - an award-winning composer, whose pieces have been performed worldwide. The piece will be completed by May. It will be seven to eight minutes long and Shuttleworth will play it on the euphonium.

"I thought it was a great honor," Shuttleworth said of how he felt when he first learned a song was being composed for him.

Evers and Zehringer, a Fort Recovery High School alumni and former band member, made the announcement in August of this year at a community talent show.

"He was very surprised. He wasn't expecting it," Evers said, adding that Shuttleworth clearly was touched that a song was being written just for him.

When the song is published, a dedication to Shuttleworth in honor of his years of service will appear on the sheet music.

Shuttleworth was the director of the Fort Recovery High School band from 1979 to 1998.

Zehringer said that when Shuttleworth became band director, the high school didn't have a football team and the basketball team was almost non-existent. "Being in band was the biggest event you could be involved in," he said.

During his time as band director, the Fort Recovery marching and concert bands took home 18 state superior ratings and 16 grand championships. His band was the national winner of the Great Southern Contest of Champions in Orlando, Fla., in 1986.

"I had a lot of successful years and memories that I'll truly cherish for the rest of my life," Shuttleworth said of his years as band director.

"(Shuttleworth) was a real perfectionist and a compassionate realist," Zehringer said. "He treated everyone fairly and he exposed kids in Fort Recovery to things they would have not been exposed to (otherwise)." He said the bands frequently traveled to perform and compete.

"I totally credit him for steering me in my career path," said Zeheringer, who now works as the assistant director of music at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. "(Shuttleworth) just had a way (of) being such a positive, inspirational figure."

Shuttleworth served as middle school principal from 1998 to the end of the 2009 school year. He made the switch to principal when the new elementary/middle school was constructed.

"There was a new challenge," he said of his reason for becoming principal. Also, the school superintendent back then thought he was a good leader and would thrive in the position.

He retired this year because he felt it was time. "I had 35 years of public education and 35 was just a milestone," he said.

His next challenge in life will be learning the song written for him and performing it in front of a crowd.

When he found out about the piece, Shuttleworth said his reaction was, "I'd better start practicing," he said with a laugh.

Shuttleworth is working with Winteregg on the piece. The composer will keep in mind Shuttleworth's skills and music styles as he creates the song.

Zehringer contacted Winteregg about commissioning the piece. He has performed some of Winteregg's pieces and worked with him in thepast.

Evers said she is hoping the Ohio Music Education Association will chose the piece written for Shuttleworth to be used in competitions. Shuttleworth is a member of the association.

"We're hoping it will be a class A solo and suitable for high school students at Solo Ensemble," Shuttleworth said.

So far, the money to pay for the piece has been raised by Evers contacting Fort Recovery High School alumni who were members of the band when it was under Shuttleworth's direction. If more than $1,000 is raised for the song, the piece will be longer, Evers said.

"I hope we raise $4,000 so we can do a professional recording of the piece," Zehringer said. "I'd love to blow way past that ($1,000)."

Shuttleworth will perform the piece at the community talent show at the amphitheater at VanTrees Park, Fort Recovery. The show has been tentatively scheduled for Aug. 8.

When Shuttleworth peforms the piece on the euphonium, a brass instrument, he will be accompanied by the piano. The pianist hasn't been chosen yet, Zehringer said.

"It's something that he's going to make the world premiere of (the song). It's a big deal," Zehringer said.

Shuttleworth said he is a little nervous about his upcoming performance. "There will be anticipation and it's always good to have anticipation before the performance," he said.

Shuttleworth has become more accustomed to performing in front of large crowds recently.

Since his retirement, he has joined the Ohio Valley Brass Band, Dayton, Ohio, and has been performing frequently. He has been playing the euphonium since middle school.

Along with performing, Shuttleworth keeps busy by doing some remodeling and traveling.

In May, he plans to take a mission trip with his wife, Sue Ann, to Kenya, Africa. He said he likely will take the mouthpiece for his euphonium along, so he can practice the song.

He has been playing the instrument since middle school.

The trip will be for two weeks. He and his wife will be meeting with 40 educators and talking to them about United States teaching methods. His wife retired three years ago as a Fort Recovery Elementary School teacher.

Donations may be sent to: Ted Shuttleworth Commissioned Piece, in care of Tracy Hein Evers, 14362 Hillgrove-Fort Recovery Road, Fort Recovery, OH 45846.[[In-content Ad]]