By Mark Norris
News Editor
David Kehler is resigning his position as director of the Mustang Band to pursue his doctorate at the University of Texas in Austin in conducting. Kehler has been director for ten years at SMU and said that he has brought stability to the organization.
“We’ve created excellent working relations with the alumni. We have a new facility and endowment lined up, so that in the future the program will be on solid ground,” he said.
Kehler expressed regret that the new band hall and other funds have been slow to develop. “It takes time developing the relationships necessary to get those things done.”
After receiving his doctorate, Kehler plans to serve as a director of ensembles at a major university and says that the Mustang Band will be the final time he directs a marching band.
The application process for Kehler’s replacement is still open at this time. The new director will be hired at some point between July 1 and August 1. The band plans to hire a permanent director as opposed to someone to serve on an interim basis.
