Song highlights how retiring Albion teacher connected with students through cookies
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mike Thaine directs the Albion High School concert band in the debut of “Freshly Baked Cookies.”
ALBION – The final concert of Mike Thaine’s career as a band teacher had an extra special element last week: an original composition that was played publicly for the first time.
Thaine’s wife Susan and their children, Abigail and Kyle, commissioned Stephen Shewan to write a piece that could be played in Thaine’s final concert of a 34-year career in public education.
Provided photo: Mike Thaine, left, and Stephen Shewan are pictured after the concert on June 10 in Albion.
Shewan, a Shelby resident, went to a band rehearsal last October. He noticed a strong camaraderie between Thaine and his students. After the rehearsal, about 20 students stayed after. The teacher had baked cookies and shared them with the kids. That day was close to Halloween and the cookies had candy corn in them.
“The cookies captured the love and joy that permeated this group of students and their director, somewhat like an informal breaking of bread,” Shewan wrote in the Albion concert program about the song. “It was evident the students and director had a special bond built upon mutual respect, love and appreciation.”
The six-minute piece, “Fresh Baked Cookies,” made its world debut on June 10 in the Albion Middle School Auditorium.
Shewan created a piece that he said is playful and youthful in spirit. He also wanted a few sleigh bell cameos to highlight Albion’s heritage as the home of a Santa School run by the late Charles Howard from 1937 util 1966.
Thaine is an Albion graduate. He worked in Steuben County, first a year at Greenwood and then seven years at Prattsburgh before returning to his alma in 1998 as the elementary music teacher, introducing third- and fourth-graders to musical instruments. He worked in that role for nine years before becoming the high school band and music teacher.
He has led multiple groups – the marching band, jazz band, pit orchestra and many smaller ensembles.
Thaine said he started baking cookies and breakfast casseroles for students about four or five years ago.
“I just think the world of the kids,” he said. “A lot of the kids like to stay and have lunch.”
He is pleased with Shewan’s composition and the title. The band started rehearsing with the music in February. Thaine said it is a challenging piece to play, which is what he wanted.
“I couldn’t have been happier,” Thaine said about the newly created music.
Mike Thaine directs the 70-member band last week.
