Photo by Hal Smith
Brad Harzman, a music teacher in North Lyon County, directs his students Thursday afternoon at Northern Heights High School.
A North Lyon County music teacher soon will be marching to a different kind of drum.
Brad Harzman of Emporia, who teaches music at Reading and Northern Heights, has been chosen to go to Afghanistan to work with musicians near Kabul.
“It’s a good thing,” Harzman said with enthusiasm. “I’ll be advising and mentoring the Afghan National Army Band.”
The band umbrella spans orchestra, concert band and marching band, he said. Both bands use traditional band instruments; the orchestra features trumpets, drums and traditional Afghan instruments.
“I’ll work with all of them,” he said.
Harzman’s stint in Afghanistan will be an extension of his service as a sergeant first class in the 35th Division Band of the Kansas National Guard in Olathe. He has grown accustomed to touring with the band during his 20 years in the Guard, but the tours have not been as far-ranging as the upcoming assignment.
“I’ll have to get there and evaluate what they know and see where they’re able to go,” Harzman said. “I won’t treat it like high-school band. We’ll sit down, listen, have tea and talk.”
The opportunity for the assignment came through a former music teacher, Judy Putman, whose husband Dale, currently is in Afghanistan. Judy Putman told Harzman that his name came up at a staff meeting there. With the current U.S. advisor preparing to leave, Harzman saw the opening as an opportunity. He requested information and submitted his resume and biography in June. In July, he learned he had been selected to go and notified the school district that he would be leaving at some point during the school year. That time will be here this month.
“They’ve been very understanding and supportive, and I really appreciate that. It makes it easier to be a volunteer soldier when your administrators are supportive of what you’re doing.”
Leaving two sons, 17 and 15, and a daughter, 8, won’t be as easy. He is encouraged, however, by his sons’ excitement.
“They think it’s a great opportunity,” he said.
The assignment interested him because of “the chance to work with another culture doing something I love to do. ...I can look at this as a chance to enrich my career. I certainly will be getting an education,” Harzman said.
In Afghanistan, he will be accompanied by an interpreter, though he intends to learn at least the basics of the national language. As time allows, he also plans to travel as much as possible. He named Turkey, India, Pakistan and perhaps China as possible destinations.
“I’ll do as much traveling as I’m permitted to do,” he said. “I love to travel. I love to meet new people and learn new things.”
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