LIBERTY — While ears were on the music, all eyes were on one of the Mahoning Valley’s longest-serving band directors as he directed the last performance of his career.

The building was packed as the Liberty High School Jazz Ensemble, comprised of 25 students, hosted Music at the Manor at the Woodland Estate on Logan Way on Friday evening. The two-part event featured food, beverages and song choices from the students, as ensemble members put together renditions of songs like “Saturday in the Park” by Chicago, “Dancing Queen” by ABBA and “A Night to Remember” by Beabadoobee and Laufey.

Michael Summers, who served as the Liberty Local School District’s fifth- through 12th-grade band director for the last 26 years of his 36-year career, said before the performance that the decision to call it quits was both “exciting and unnerving” at the same time.

“It just dawned on me last month when we were doing a concert that this is the last concert — like this is my last concert tonight completely,” Summers said. “So little things are hitting little bits at a time.”

Summers said his retirement decision was motivated by aging, as it was time to start thinking about other things and enjoying time with his family.

“My kids are in college and just out of college, my son’s finishing his Ph.D. and my daughter just got out and has a full-time job,” he said. “So I want to be able to spend a bit of time with them before they move away.”

“I think it’s time to try something new,” Summers added.

While the decision was on the radar for about a year, Summers said, the state’s reduction of the number of years a teacher had to have before retirement shifted his thoughts. Between that and variables like minor health issues, his mind was set around January or February, he added.

Summers credited his high school band director, Dominic “Ducky” Feorene, who had semi-retired, as one of his driving influences for forming such career aspirations in him as a sophomore.

“He (Farine) moved down to the elementary, middle school building; he was a true influence as to why I wanted to be there (teaching),” he said. “And then, my band director for the last two years, Bill Forrester, whom I worked with as an assistant, was the other driving factor; those two people are probably the reason that I’m here doing what I’m doing.”

The Liberty Board of Education accepted Summers’ resignation alongside Blott Guy Elementary P-2 principal Michael Palmer at an April 28 regular meeting.

Board president David Malone thanked Palmer and Summers for their service as part of his closing remarks, noting that his kids were both better off from having them as part of their education.

And Summers shared that sentiment.

“I feel the same way; I benefit from their kids. I’ve been very blessed here with the administration — I hear some of the stories from other band directors, from colleagues that fight with their administration,” Summers said. “I’ve been very blessed here for all 26 years that I’ve been here that the administration has been very supportive, and that’s actually made the job much, much easier.”

Gabriella Sandy, who joined the district in 2023, teaches kindergarten through fourth grade and assists with fifth and sixth grade band. She explained that the last two years allowed her to see firsthand how Summers’ program functioned, noting it was like a “well-oiled machine.”

“He has been an amazing colleague and friend to work with. We’ve been able to team up and figure out ways to help boost our kids in their music learning journeys, and it has been a blast,” Sandy said. “There’s been so much I’ve learned, I don’t think I can pinpoint a specific piece of advice (he’s given).”

“One thing I can say is the community truly values the music education their children are getting here in Liberty,” Sandy added.

Woodland Estate owner Nate Wilson, who runs the building alongside his wife, Danielle, said they met Summers with his wife at the Winery Inn in Hubbard, where Wilson suggested the manor to him in passing. That chance interaction led to the ensemble performing there for the last several years.

“It’s the end of an era. I’m sure just knowing him, he’s going to be involved somehow,” Wilson said. “He’s going to be living up life – he’s going to be doing good, but he’s going to be involved with the band somehow, I’m sure.”