Michael L Packard

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I spent 10 years in my first school in 28 years in my second school. I go to school every day to talk with the kids talk with the other teachers and generally have a really good time. But the reason why I became a teacher was I was able to to interact with professional musicians, which made me want to play the trumpet all the more. I played with Clark Terry, Allen Vizzutti, Bob Lark, all those guys are top of their craft, and I have been lucky enough to learn

My best experience was when I was able to play with Kansas Lyon State band. I was a teacher. I was a counselor and I got to interact with 400+ students for a whole week and we had a blast. Kids and staff alike were just a joy I was able to be on staff with Kansas Lions state band for about 10 or so years. And being able to send my kids, my band kids and my children and watch them. Learn was just awesome.

With $25,000 I would buy some instruments for the school that we need but don’t have. I would also try to take my wife on a really nice vacation. We have always wanted to go to Europe, our kids have all been, so we would like to do that and just see everything. But one of the things I would like to see most on that trip is the beaches of Normandy. So we have a lot we would like to do with that kind of money that we would normally be able to do.