Vernon Pieper Memorial Scholarship

Vernon Pieper was born and raised in New London and received his college degree from Lawrence College in 1953. He and his wife, Joan, came to Amherst that year when he accepted the position of Director of Instrumental Music. He also taught English. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Marine Corp and active in the Marine Band.

When Mr. Pieper came to Amherst, all of the school district rural areas were served by one- or two-room schools. He traveled to these rural schools and gave lessons to those students who showed interest in the band. He could play all of the mouthpiece and reed instruments and demonstrated them to the students on his trips to the schools.

In 1953, there were only 175 students in the high school and 33 in the band, and that included some eighth-grade students from Amherst Elementary School. By 1960, Amherst High had 179 students and 54 in band. In a few short years, the Amherst High Concert and Marching Bands ratings had risen from C to A ratings.

In 1960, Vernon, Joan, and their three children, left Amherst when he accepted the band director position at Middleton High School. He served Middleton High School for 26 years. He passed away in 2001 from heart disease.

Vernon Pieper’s list of accomplishments both state-wide and nationally, are numerous. His honors include Wisconsin Outstanding Bandmaster Award, Guest Conductor of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band for the playing of the national anthem at a Wisconsin Badger football game at Camp Randall, and as Parade Marshall for the annual Middleton Good Neighbor Festival.

In retirement, he became a reader in Mrs. Brown’s first grade class in Middleton. Mrs. Brown delivered his funeral eulogy and told the audience how immensely popular he was with the children. The Tomorrow River Scholarship Foundation was listed as a recipient for memorials in his honor, and among the memorials the Foundation received was a donation from Mrs. Brown’s first grade class.

Vernon was known for keeping in touch with Amherst over the years and came to numerous class reunions. After his endowed scholarship was established in 1998, he would come to the Foundation’s awards night and present his named scholarship. He told us, both in letters and personally, that the endowed scholarship in his name here at the Tomorrow River Scholarship Foundation was his greatest honor and tribute.

His ability to instill the love of music in his students is what set him apart from his peers. Because of his contributions to students and music, the Tomorrow River Scholarship Foundation is proud to have an endowed scholarship established for Vernon Pieper.