Music teacher Brad Schoener — the husband of Lancaster County native and New Holland Elementary School band director Jennifer Schoener — has barely skipped a beat since he was diagnosed with a rare and often deadly cancer in early 2004.

Despite two major and three minor surgeries and three years of chemotherapy for leiomyosarcoma, life hasn't stopped for Schoener, 44, of Westtown, Chester County.

The 23-year band director at Delaware County's Upper Darby School District was one of five music teachers nationwide recently named Teacher of the Year by Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.

He will be honored at a New York Pops concert at Carnegie Hall in April.

The foundation, founded by Michael Kamen, composer for the 1995 movie, "Mr. Holland's Opus," donated $1.6 million for about 3,000 instruments to schools around the country last year. The teacher of the year award is given in memory of Kamen, who died in 2003.

Jennifer Schoener's parents, Dick and Joan Weidman, reside in Millersville.

Other than recovering from surgeries and taking off Friday afternoons for treatments, Brad Schoener has missed only one day of school since he was diagnosed with the cancer that attacks the colon, liver and pancreas.

He continues to write and publish music for other school band directors and to be active in the music program at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester and in his son's Boy Scout Troop. He has a son, Bradford Jr., 15, and a daughter, Lauren, 17.

But he has put on hold his career performing with numerous professional groups because sometimes when he blows his trumpet, he blacks or "grays" out.

He teaches at three elementary schools, where the bands, with about 600 students, have tripled in size since he started working with them in 1992.

Known as the "Music Man of Upper Darby," he came to the attention of the foundation when he received three MHOF grants in the last two years, providing 34 instruments for students in the district on the edge of West Philadelphia.

"All three of my schools are in the lower socio-economic level," he said. "Fifty to 85 percent of the students receive free lunches and most of them live" in housing subsidized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"Many students sign up for band, but their parents can't afford to rent, let alone buy, an instrument," Schoener said. "Without the grants, some students would not be playing."

Schoener works under less than desirable conditions, as none of the schools has a band room.

Practice is held in makeshift spaces, some without room for chairs or time to put them up and take them down.

And yet Schoener inspires his students with his upbeat attitude. After going through a litany of things they don't have, he concludes:

"Guess what? That doesn't mean you can't be awesome players."

To hear the bands perform, go to philly.com/schoener and click on "Watch a video tribute to Brad Schoener."

Since the foundation's award was announced on Jan. 31, Schoener has been featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer article and on Fox News in Philadelphia. An interview with Fox for national TV has been postponed due to the recent snowstorm.

Schoener had an epiphany on an early morning walk one Sunday shortly after his diagnosis.

"A thought crossed my mind: I don't think God is finished with me," he said.

Then he went to church, where the pastor said in his sermon, "you've got work to do; you're not finished yet."

"Chills ran down my spine," he said.

When Schoener learned he would lose his long mane of hair from chemotherapy, he decided to shave his head and use it as a learning tool.

He allowed students who played a difficult scale or drummed a complicated piece to sign his scalp.

Schoener said he is "feeling great."

"Three years ago, my prognosis was very grave," he said. "But I'm still here. My condition is stable. I'm happy to go to work. I can't wait to get in and do things for my students."

Receiving a national award in the midst of being treated for cancer has "sweetened" his life, he said, along with the outpouring of love and support he has received from his students and colleagues, family and friends.

"I have to say I wish, if I could give a gift to other teachers, I would like them to receive what I have received," he said. "I would like them to see the fruits of their labor."

During an interview with his students by a reporter writing about his award, he heard all he needs to hear.

"The reporter asked what the kids have learned from me," he said. "They said they have learned to overcome obstacles and make the most of what they have.

"I hope to get that through to all my students."

CONTACT US: jkern@LNPnews.com or 481-6028