Karl King’s Legacy marches on: Adam Creager receives SEIBA Award

MT. PLEASANT — Adam Creager’s passion for music and commitment to preserving its legacy have made him a cornerstone of the Mt. Pleasant music community, so it came as no surprise to many when he received the Karl King Distinguished Service Award.

The honor, presented by the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association (SEIBA) during the Honor Band Concert in Iowa City, celebrates educators who make extraordinary contributions to their school programs and the broader music education community.

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“It’s an award where you’re nominated and voted on by other band directors,” he said. “It means a lot to me that my colleagues across southeast Iowa feel that I’m deserving of this honor. Honestly, I’m still kind of flabbergasted, because there’s a lot of band directors out there that I think are more worthy of this than myself. It just makes me feel honored and humbled and appreciative of their support.”

Creager, who has directed the Mt. Pleasant Middle School band for 17 years, said the award reflects the shared respect and connection among music educators. Creager says he even nominated some of these fellow educators for this award and was surprised when he was named at the SEIBA Honor Band Concert Saturday, Jan. 25.

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Each year SEIBA selects an active band director and retired band director to receive this award. Creager shared the spotlight with retired band director Kim Benson who he described as a friend and colleague since his first year of teaching.

“She's been a supporter and encouraging and worked with my kids and my bands before, and I really think the world of her,” Creager said. “So, it was a real honor to share the stage with her.”

Other past recipients, including Jim DePriest and Lisa Knipe, also hold special significance in Creager’s professional journey, serving as sources of inspiration and guidance.

A Mt. Pleasant native and 2001 graduate of Mt. Pleasant Community High School, Creager has dedicated his career to fostering a love of music in students. After two years teaching in Eddyville-Blakesburg, he returned to his hometown to build upon the music program that shaped his own early years.

“As a product of this program, my goal when I was hired was to carry forward the tradition of excellence Mt. Pleasant has always been known for,” he said. “I want to provide as many kids as possible with a positive and enriching experience through music.”

Creager’s philosophy extends beyond technical instruction. He emphasizes accessibility and joy in music-making for all students.

“I push kids to the next level, encouraging our middle school band to sound as good as a high school band,” he said. “But it’s also about making sure they’re enjoying themselves and growing along the way.”

His philosophy must ring true with his students as most years audiences will recognize some of Creager’s students in the Mt. Pleasant Community Band during their downtime in the summer.

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“Some of the kids want to keep playing even when school’s out, and I try to encourage that,” he said. “It’s all about keeping them engaged and giving them opportunities to grow.”

In addition to coming to Mt. Pleasant in 2007 to continue his career with the middle school, Creager took up the reins as the Mt. Pleasant Community Band Director. A signature aspect of Creager’s leadership of the community band consistently featuring music composed by Karl King, the namesake of his recent award. King, a celebrated Iowa composer and bandmaster, left a lasting mark on the state’s musical heritage through his prolific march compositions.

“We play a Karl King march at almost every concert because he’s a native Iowan and we’re proud of the music he wrote and the contributions he made to music education in the state,” Creager said. “Playing his music is a way to show we are thankful for what he did and pay tribute to him.”

Creager stated that received an award named after a composer he features so often is an added layer of fun to the whole experience.

In addition to his regular duties as the Mt. Pleasant Middle School Band Director, Creager also leads the middle school marching band, helps with the high school marching band and now directs the First Presbyterian Church Bell Choir. He participated in this choir for just over 15 years before taking on his new directing role last year.

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Creager’s influence extends beyond Mt. Pleasant. From 2015 to 2024, he served as SEIBA’s mentorship coordinator, connecting new educators with experienced teachers to provide guidance and support. Now, as SEIBA’s president-elect, he prepares to step into the role of president in June.

The Karl King Distinguished Service Award is part of a statewide recognition process, with each of Iowa’s six music districts nominating one recipient. A statewide vote will determine the final recipient, who will be honored at the Iowa Bandmasters Association’s annual conference in May. While Creager is humbled by the nomination, he remains focused on his daily work.

“I’m just thrilled to have received this recognition,” he said. “I’m honored that people think so much of me, and I appreciate that.”

For Creager, the award affirms his lifelong commitment to building relationships, creating opportunities, and working tirelessly to promote music education.

“Building positive personal relationships makes everything easier,” he said. “And then there’s the work — putting in the time to make sure that students and programs have opportunities to perform, whether it’s in Mt. Pleasant, across southeast Iowa, or even beyond.”

Through his leadership, Creager has been recognized for his service to music education in southeast Iowa. His passion for teaching and dedication to preserving Iowa’s musical heritage ensure that the legacy of music in Mt. Pleasant will continue to flourish for generations to come.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com