Al Sergel served twenty-four years as the Director of Bands at Northwest Missouri State University and retired from thirty seven years of full-time teaching in 2004. During his tenure at Northwest he conducted the University Wind Symphony, the “Musical Pride of Northwest” – Bearcat Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and the Northwest University Orchestra. He taught graduate and undergraduate conducting, percussion methods, and graduate instrumental music education classes. He was a co-director of the Northwest Summer Music Camps and campus director of the Summer Marching Auxiliaries. From 2000-2004 he also served as the Director of the Freshman Seminar program involving 1200 students in 70 sections providing all first time students with a university orientation and personal educational planning curriculum. He served as President of the Northwest Faculty Senate 1999-2000. Prior to his appointment at Northwest, he conducted very successful high school bands at Brewer High School in Ft.Worth, Texas, 1974-1981 and Auburndale High School, 1969-1973 in Auburndale, Florida. Since 2007 he has been an adjunct faculty member at Missouri Western State University.
Sergel is still active as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States. He holds his degrees from the Florida State University, 1964-1969 (BMEI), where he was a student of Dr. Manley Whitcomb, Charles Carter, Robert Braunagle and Dr. Clifford Madsen, the University of Florida, 1973-1974 (Masters in Music Education), where he was a student of Frank Wickes and Richard Bowles and an Education Specialist Degree in Music Administration from Northwest, 1985-1989. He did post graduate work in higher education administration at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and at the same time studied conducting with Dr. Gary Hill, 1988-1992. While teaching in Texas he attended summer conducting classes at North Texas State University with Anton Brusilov, former concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also participated in the 1984 CBDNA summer conducting symposium at the University of Northern Colorado working under Eugene Corporon and David Whitwell.
Sergel has been selected to the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He has received the Distinguished Service to Music Medal, highest national award from Kappa Kappa Psi, honorary fraternity for college band members, been inducted into the Florida State University Band Alumni “Wall of Fame”, recipient of the Sigma Alpha Iota Distinguished Member Award and the prestigious “Orpheus Award” for outstanding musical leadership from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He served two consecutive biennium terms (1997-2001) on the National Council for Kappa Kappa Psi as National Vice President for Professional Relations and another four year term as a member of the National Board of Trustees. Sergel founded the Four State Honor Music Festival (1983) , the MENC Junior High Solo and Ensemble Festival (1985), and the Kappa Kappa Psi Junior High Concert Band Festival (1997). His percussion solos and ensembles, as well as his “Handbook for Concert Band Warm-ups”, are published with JPM Music. His Warm-Up Chorales for Concert Band are published with Sergel 3 Music.
His membership in professional organizations includes, the National Bandmasters Association (NBA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), Missouri Bandmasters Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Nebraska Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Beta Mu.
He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the FSU Band Alumni Association. He is the conductor of the Platte City Community Band and a member of the percussion section and board of directors for the Northwinds Symphonic Band.
Al has two children. Alfred (IV), residing in Charlotte, NC., is a professional musician currently touring with Jason Upton. And Audra, who has her own private voice and piano studio in Columbia, MO. Alfred and his wife, Hunaida, have three children Emma, Abbie, and Becca . Al enjoys the outdoors and is an avid fisherman.