By Emily Christensen |  Photos Wartburg College Archives

How a conductor impacted the lives of his students one pithy saying at a time

Dr. Robert E. Lee, an advocate for music education and Wartburg College, died Friday, June 24, at the age of 93.

Lee joined the Wartburg music faculty in 1959 and was named professor emeritus upon his retirement in 1995. During his distinguished 36-year tenure, he taught a variety of music education and conducting courses and directed the Wartburg College Concert Band, leading the band on its first European tour in 1973. In addition to his work with the WCCB, Lee also founded the Knightliters Jazz Band in 1959 and directed the Wartburg Community Symphony from 1959 to 1964.

In recognition of the impact Lee had on their lives, band alumni honored him by donating more than $40,000 in his name toward construction of the Bachman Fine Arts Center. In 2018, band and music education alumni again honored his legacy with gifts to establish the Dr. Robert E. Lee Endowed Scholarship for students wishing to become instrumental music instructors. The same year, the college presented him with the Wartburg Medal.

A leader in the Waverly and Shell Rock communities, Lee volunteered at the Waverly Health Center and Waverly-Shell Rock High School with the band program. He co-founded the popular Shell Rock Spring Swing variety show with his brother-in-law in 1965 and was part of many novelty acts, especially anything related to polka or Dixieland music.

Lee earned a bachelor’s degree from Luther College, which later awarded him the Carlos A. Sperati Award in recognition of his distinguished career in musical arts. He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate from the University of Iowa.

Upon his passing, we asked some of his students to once again come together to honor the man who had a lasting impact on their lives.

“So many of us knew this time was coming, but the passing of Dr. Robert E. Lee has still hit hard,” said Randall Winkey ’76. “Dr. Robert E. Lee — a true musician and lover of life who inspired generations of students to live life to the fullest. We continue to remember and use his wisdom on a daily basis. He was a great man who will so be missed.”

Here are just a few of the things for which lee will be remembered

Randall Winkey ’76
Favorite Lee saying: If you’re on time, you’re late!
How Lee impacted your life: He took this naive farm kid under his wing and encouraged me to experience life as a music major at Wartburg. That was certainly a decision that has impacted my life ever since. I was then a part of the very first European tour in 1973 and was so inspired by a director that could combine a serious love of good band literature with a bit of fun in the form of “Band-Aid Follies.” That was staged every spring back then and also a part of our European tour program — much to the delight of our foreign audiences. Back before the advent of the cellphone, I sat many a day in Dr. Lee’s office on the phone scheduling concert and host sites. His desk was always filled with boxes of raisins as his primary snack of the day. He insisted that the raisins and his daily dose of sardines flushed out his system and increased his odds of a long life. He was right! Read more from Randall. 

Linda Stull Moeller ’66
Favorite Lee memory: When I was in the band, every day he would put a saying up on the board. He was always very reflective about life and was always reading about more than just music. He was great at teaching us life lessons, especially when he took the band on tour.

Alan Feirer ’91
Favorite Lee saying: There’s only one rule in music: Make it sound good.
How Lee impacted your life: In my 19 years as a band director, this REL-ism reminded me to keep it simple, not overthink things, and remember that music is an art form for us to enjoy. Those of us involved in music-making know that we can lose sight of that when we obsess about perfect breathing and alternate fingering mastery and ideal blend and pitch tendencies and getting the phrasing of the crescendo just right. This sticks with me, even though it’s been a while since I’ve taught music full time. One can omit a couple words, and still live by it: “There’s only one rule: Make it good.” Read more from Alan. 

Rick Biederman ’85
Favorite Lee memory: Dr. Lee was one of a kind: a philosopher, an encourager, an inspiration, and a mentor. He witnessed to his faith in his own unassuming way. I was in the band when he had a revelation that too many band concerts were boring to the audience and that we needed to appeal more to our audience. He decided to do a couple Sousa concerts where he would dress up as John Philip Sousa. He also brought in special soloists. One was a tuba player who played the piccolo part on the tuba for The Stars and Stripes Forever. I am thankful I got to know him and be under his direction for my four years at Wartburg.

Steve Tripolino ’77
Favorite Lee saying: Don’t let your studies interfere with your education.
Favorite Lee memory: My favorite memory was one of concern and compassion in regard to my future. He tracked me down at a place I had never seen him before: preseason football practice. He wanted to assure me even though football practice and band rehearsals overlapped, there would still be a place for me in the band in November after football was over. He once again confirmed how valuable the big picture remains.

Jo Ann Knipfer Sherman ’92
Favorite Lee memory: In around 2010, we had to travel to Waverly-Shell Rock High School for large group contests. As I was warming up my band, it occurred to me that maybe Dr. Lee was listening to bands at the festival. Sure enough, as we walked into the gym to perform, I saw Dr. Lee in the bleachers. After our performance, I was walking out of the gym as my band was leaving, and Dr. Lee approached me from the bleachers. He was so complimentary of our performance and gave his affirmation toward me as a high school director (a job I had only held for about three years after having taught the lower grade levels for 15 years). I don’t believe he ever heard my bands again, so I have a high level of appreciation for that moment in time. Read more from Jo Ann.