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Airman, teacher impact one another's lives

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
NAPERVILLE, Ill. --  Throughout an educator's career, he may teach hundreds of students and though some faces may become muddled with the passing of time, a few stand out because of their passion.

Joseph Bello's passion for music ignited as a fifth grader when a group of high school students came to his classroom to demonstrate different musical instruments. It was a life changing moment for Bello when he was introduced to the euphonium and future mentor, Charles Staley.

The moment Bello heard the sound of the euphonium, a baritone-voiced brass instrument, he became entranced.

"I fell in love with the instrument immediately and just wanted to play that instrument because of the sound," said Bello, who grew up here. "In middle school in sixth or seventh grade I decided I wanted to play the euphonium for a living and did everything that I could do to make that happen."

At this time Staley was the Waubonsie Valley High School band director and Bello's second band director. As years passed he became more than that to Bello and became a mentor. Staley still remembers when Bello shared his dream with his peers during a class in 1990.

"He told us his dream was to play in the Air Force Band because he had seen them perform when he was in the eighth grade," said Staley, now the Neuqua Valley High School director of bands. "He let people know that was his dream and as a teacher to hear somebody state 'I want to play in the Air Force Band,' as his dream and then to watch that happen is pretty special."

As the years passed, Bello worked hard to achieve this dream. As a college student majoring in music, he practiced music for four to six hours a day, eventually earning Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from George Mason University. In 1998, his dream became a reality when he was awarded a position with the U.S. Air Force Band.

Bello is now a technical sergeant and serves as principal euphonium in the Concert Band and also director of tours for the Concert Band. He planned the current USAF Band's 2014 Spring Tour.

As the tour would span three states across the Midwest, Bello contacted Staley about the opportunity for a performance at Neuqua Valley High School. The Band not only performed a free show at the school, but offered a master's music clinic, invited students from three area high schools to join them on stage and asked Staley to join the band as a guest conductor.

"Once that door was open there were many great opportunities for the school," Staley said.

This is not the first time the two have reconnected after Bello graduated. They have remained in touch since Bello left school.

"His father, a retired Air Force major, passed away last year and I had the honor of being the drum major for him at Arlington Cemetery for him with Ceremonial Brass," Bello said. "It was one of the most meaningful things I have done in my career."

This spring tour is bittersweet for Bello as it is his final tour with the Band. He will retire from the Air Force and pursue a new dream of earning a doctoral of musical arts degree in conducting.

"I think this is a great opportunity for him and a great loss for the Air Force," Staley said. "I think it is going to work out very well and everyone will be proud to know him."

Bello knows dreams are achievable with hard work and dedication.

"Follow your heart and your dreams," he said. "You have the power to make anything happen in your life. Just work hard, practice, and with some discipline, the world is at your disposal."