Hamilton Remembers: Mr. Neubauer

“Mr. Neubauer...did a lot to help me get to where I did in band.  It would have been impossible for me to reach the success I did without him.  Thank you for all [he] did for me and so many others.” -Evan Gunderson, 2020

“He loved coffee and Mountain Dew (he had one every day), and always had large amounts of salad dressing and vitamin water in his fridge. We would tease him about it after class and he would pretend to be exasperated with us but would always smile at our jokes.” -Anonymous

“Mr. Neubauer instilled in me my love for music and impacted me in such a huge way. He had endless amounts of patience and kindness, and I sincerely enjoyed every rehearsal, concert, and solo ensemble with him through my years in band and jazz after school. I’m not sure if I would have continued with music if it weren’t for his encouragement and guidance. There isn’t a minute that goes by where he isn’t missed.” -Sarah Kidd, 2022

“I always struggled with learning music, but when I got to sixth grade and Mr. Neubauer became my teacher, that changed. He took the extra time to teach me music and make it make sense. What was a previous struggle, he made effortlessly fun. He was a great teacher and an even greater person, who always cared about his students.” -Cora Kuhlenbeck, 2021

“In eighth grade our class found out when Mr. Neubauer’s birthday was without him knowing, and we secretly planned to start playing “Happy Birthday” instead of one of our warmups when he started conducting. He was so confused at first, and then he realized what we were doing and we all laughed for so long afterwards. He was such a helpful, kind, and amazing person who genuinely cared about all of his students. He will be missed so much.” -Emma Hartman, 2021

“It is because of teachers like him that I am pursuing music education. Mr. Neubauer was an amazing musician who kept music in the lives of his students. He inspired so many young people to learn and strive in their craft. He saw potential in each of his students, no matter their skill level. He never gave up on any of his students, no matter how frustrated he got with us. I hope I can come even just a little bit close to how amazing he was as a music educator. I hope his music legacy lives on at Templeton.” -Bec Blaedow, 2018

“Mr. Neubauer was a person who pushed you to perform at your best, even when you didn't want to. Looking back, I realize that he made everyone look forward to each concert and rehearsal. Without his mentorship and guidance, I would not be the person I am today. He had a profound impact on hundreds of students, and it is truly saddening to see him go.” -Akash Deepak, 2022

“In 8th grade we had to go virtual, so Mr. Neubauer chose to create a virtual concert for us. (Taking all of our video clips and piecing them together, was probably some tough work). His quick thinking and determination such as this made every day in his class enjoyable and interesting. This has inspired many of us to go on to improve ourselves and our skills in band and in other classes. He will be greatly missed by all the people he has inspired." -Dylan Patch, 2024

“Mr. Neubauer was a one-of-a-kind teacher; he took an interest in every student’s path. He always had a smile on his face and was ready to crack a joke all the time. Mr. Neubauer was the reason I stayed with music for so long. There were times I wanted to quit and give up; he was always there to show me the bright side of things and help me overcome any challenges I faced. He was always so caring and would always take that extra time with his students to make sure they had all the materials needed to succeed. He was the best band teacher I could ever ask for.” -Chloe Miller, 2020

“Mr. Neubaur was an amazing teacher. He was the one who got me into music and band, so I thank him for teaching me. His jokes were always funny; he was a giant goofball that made me smile each and every day he taught me. Even if he is gone he will forever be in my heart not just as a teacher but as a person. Thank you Mr. Neubauer for teaching me and making me laugh.” -Katelyn Loveday, 2022

“Mr. Neubauer was one of the kindest teachers I encountered in my years at Templeton. He was the first teacher I ever had for more than a year, and over the three years he taught me, we were able to build a close relationship. I tended to be pretty shy in middle school, and he worked really hard to get to know me and help me grow, not only in playing my instrument, but as a person. He cared so much about me and all my classmates and was always there to help us when we needed it. Band was always a highlight of my school day throughout all of middle school, and a lot of that is because of the community he built out of all of his students. Thank you so much, Mr.Neubauer. You will be missed.” -Sarah Onysio, 2021

“Mr. Neubauer was always very patient and was kind even though I wasn’t a very good player. Even when we weren’t very good, especially as sixth graders, he never got annoyed or upset at us. And by the time we made it to eight grade we had improved drastically. That was all due to Mr. Neubauer. He was one of my favorite teachers at Templeton and I wish I had gotten the chance to tell him that. Mr. Neubauer, one of the kindest teachers I’ve ever had, I hope you have found peace.” -Jenna Withrow, 2020