Music department head and orchestra conductor Jack Rossini will retire at the end of the academic year, after working at South for 15 years.

Students appreciated Rossini’s teaching style, from his acceptance of all levels of talent to his fun personality. “I’m really sad that he’s leaving,” said junior Tanny Kang, who had Rossini as a teacher. “I wish that he would have stayed for my senior year.”

Many students were impressed with Rossini’s ability to work with a wide spectrum of talent. “He was able to work with the various levels of musical experience simply by treating everyone the same way,” said Kang.

Junior Lisa Dunker found the class to be fun, laid back and a good way to start off the morning.

Students also enjoyed that Rossini introduced them to different styles of music. “Sometimes the music could be boring, and other times it would be really fun, but overall I like how we were exposed to a wide range of music,” said Kang.

Although working with students of varying musical abilities is a challenge, Rossini finds that his teaching methods yielded positive results. “The young ones rise to the challenge and play better than they did at the beginning of the year,” he said.

“I chose pieces based on two things: one, what I thought was appropriate repertoire and two, what I thought [my students] could play,” Rossini said of his teaching style. His favorite aspects of teaching orchestra were the “musicality and high musicianship of the students” and the community. “The kids get along so well together,” Rossini said.

Next year, Jeffrey Knoedler will replace Rossini as head of the fine arts department. “Mr. Knoedler is very tied in to the South community and the Newton community in general. He will bring that powerful connection to his job [as head of the department],” music teacher BenjaminYoungman said of his promotion.

Youngman feels that Rossini and Knoedler are similar in their good senses of humor and generally optimistic outlooks, as well as in their ease with speaking and advocation for students and programs in the arts.

Rossini believes that arts are a necessity for the well-being of South students, but his retirement comes at a time when the art department faces many cuts. Rossini thinks that if more cuts are made, “a higher level of stress among the student population” will result.

As the new department head, Knoedler will have to deal with this issue in following years, yet he remains hopeful. “Newton values art and music education, and I’m hopeful the budget that is passed will reflect that,” he said.

Youngman thinks that Knoedler will have the skills to advocate for the programs in the fine arts department. In terms of saving programs and teachers, “The fighters will change but the fight will always remain the same,” Youngman said.

Rossini also thinks that his successor will be able to manage the department well. “He is very organized, and he is well-known and respected by the Newton South community for the work he has done over the past 10 years,” he said.

Youngman values the amount of time and effort Rossini has put into his work at South. “An important thing to remember is just how many years he’s been teaching … he’s been teaching twice as long as most students have been alive,” Youngman said.

Kang too, is appreciative of Rossini’s time at South. “I think he’s going to be missed a lot,” he said.