Washburn band teacher Rick Seppa has directed “Pomp and Circumstance” at dozens of graduation ceremonies.

But this past Sunday’s also served as his own graduation. Seppa is retiring after 40 years of teaching middle- and high-schoolers in Washburn.

He graduated from UW-Green Bay and taught for one year in Salem, Wis. He at first had doubts about moving as far north as the Bayfield Peninsula.

“When I interviewed for the Washburn job, it was like, yeah, this is the job I want,” Seppa said. “I thought Washburn was, you know, going to be the typical rural community with kind of not a lot to do. But this area is just teeming with artists.”

A job that felt like a stepping stone when he accepted it turned into five years, then 10. His wife also teaches at the elementary school. And he is setting down his baton after four decades behind the music stand.

“There’s a lot of kids that the only reason they’re in school is because of some of these types of activities,” Seppa said.

He’s a one-man department, so he jokes that if his students don’t know something, he knows who to blame.

“You know, I can’t blame it on the middle school guy because they didn’t teach them something,” he said. “Because I am the middle school guy.”

One of the most important parts of his job is selecting music that four different grade levels can play together. He does his best to make sure it’s both accessible and challenging.

“I never felt that music had to be hard to be good or worthwhile to play,” Seppa said.

The COVID-19 pandemic was an especially challenging time to be in his position. But some of his fondest memories include taking students to competitions and on trips.

His retirement will still include music. He plays with the Ashland City Band and Northland College Band. He’s looking forward to making his own schedule, maybe planting a garden. And there was a clear marker in his mind for when it was time to take a bow.

“I think of a concert, you look across the audience, and there are many, many kids – or many parents out there – that I had as students. And now I’ve got their second generations,” Seppa said. “And I always said, when the third generation really does come around, then I know I’ve got to get out of here.”