Above: The Junior High Band was in fine form at the CCHS spring band concert held Wednesday, May 19. Right: Bill Tormondsen thanks the audience at the Spring Band concert.
Bill Tormondsen has retired—again. Probably for the last time.
No, he said, “It’s time. Time for me to retire and stay retired.”
After all, Bill has a wife, and there’s fish to catch. Then there’s the work on the house and the cabin that’s waiting. And there’s catching up with friends and family. When you have been as busy as Bill has, there is a lot of catching up to do.
But he didn’t go quietly. No band teacher does. He left to crashing cymbals and drums and horns put together as only he could meld them.
The kids performed beautifully.
So the former Grand Marais High School graduate will now hand off his baton to Kerri Bilben, the current elementary school band instructor. It is a hand-off with a lot of history.
Tormondsen, or Torm, or Mr. T or Tormites as he has been called, was the school’s band director from 1966-71. He left to lead Duluth East’s band for 34 years, retiring in 2005.
And life was quiet—for about a minute, a staccato note, but that ended when he was asked to come back and lead the CCHS band. He agreed to come back for one year.
Thatwas 2007 and the year just ended.
So here it was, a hot Wednesday, May 19, and Bill came out to direct the Cook County Schools seventh and eighth grade bands. He was greeted with a standing ovation. The senior high band followed. The gym was filled to capacity. Some returned to honor their old band instructor. Some were there to listen to the music. All who attended witnessed a passionate man lead a disciplined senior high band in what elementary school band instructor Kerri Bilben called, “Their finest performance of the year. Better even than their last competition. They love this man. You can tell by their performance tonight.”
As he surveyed the crowd, Bill pointed to former CCHS band director Jean Gulden. Gulden was a band student of Bill’s, graduating from CCHS in 1970. After Bill left at least two band directors were hired and moved on for other jobs before Gulden came on board. She retired in 2004.
“Something’s wrong when one of my former high school band students is retired before me,” he said to laughter.
When the final number, Rumble on the High Plains,
ended, so ended the cold nights directing the band during football games, the long bus trips to competitions, the long hours of directing practice and working on new music.
And so ended a career filled with accolades and awards and the rewards of getting to know so many fine young people.
“Band kids are the best. If you ever want to hire good help, hire a band kid.
” They won’t let you down,” Tormondsen said to the crowd.
Even to the end he was advocating for “his” kids.
CCHS principal Gwen Carman thanked Tormondsen for his years of service. “I learned a lot from Bill. I will miss him. He’s been a great friend and mentor.”
There were more standing ovations. Presents given and humbly received. Coffee and cake. Tears of joy and tears of sadness. All set to beautiful music. And it all took place back home. Back to his roots. As if on cue, the final note, the final bow. The end to a harmonious night. Somewhere Harold Ikola was smiling.
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