Steven Boehlke began dabbling in music when he was a child in Mankato, Minnesota, and his father asked him to join the church choir with him. Although his father was not formally trained in music, he loved it and instilled that love into his son.

 “Music was always an important part of my father’s life,“ said Boehlke. “Growing up, music enhanced our whole life.” However, music wasn’t Boehlke’s first career choice. While in high school, Boehlke decided he wanted to become a high school teacher.

“My English teacher, who was my mentor in high school, instilled a love of teaching in me,” he said. So Boehlke attended Minnesota State University at Mankato with the intention of teaching. While there, he started to rethink his major and future.

 “My church choir director knew I was lost and tried to help me,” said Boehlke. “He first gave me voice lessons and then I took a class on the history of Bach. A light went on and I knew what I wanted to do.”

 With his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Boehlke and his wife and high school sweetheart, Margaret, moved to Winthrop, Minnesota, where he was the choral director for 11 years. From there, he and his family moved to Rosemount, where he taught at the high school for more than 24 years. “I’ve always been a teacher first, then a musician,” said Boehlke.

 After his “retirement”, Boehlke went on to teach choral music education courses, serve as interim choral director and supervise music education student teachers for University of Minnesota, School of Music, Winona State University, University of Wisconsin River Falls, Gustavus Adolphus College and Maple Grove Senior High.

 Along with his teaching, Boehlke has been involved with church music for more than 35 years. He has served as the choral director for two churches and the director of music at two churches.

 Boehlke has provided untold service to the music education community. He has served as the President of ACDA of Minnesota, the Divisional President for the North Central Division of ACDA, the Choral Vice President of MMEA, and countless other positions on boards and committees. His awards are also numerous including the MMEA Hall of Fame and Choral Teacher of the Year, and the ACDA F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award and Choral Director of the Year. Awards from outside the music education community include Outstanding Service from his school district and Distinguished Teacher Award from the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.

 And while his love of teaching and music has enhanced his life, some of his most favorite moments have been spent in the audience.

 “One of my most treasured memories was when my two daughters were in college” he said. “One was the soprano section leader in the Gustavus Adolphus choir and the other was the soprano section leader in the St. Olaf choir. My wife and I loved attending their concerts.”