Students, alumni and guest artists return to CUW to celebrate the longtime director’s final concerts and lasting influence.
On April 17 and 18, Concordia University Wisconsin welcomed students, alumni, families and friends for a weekend of music and reflection. The occasion marked the retirement of Dr. Louis A. Menchaca, whose 34 years of service have shaped the university’s instrumental music program and the lives of those within it.
Across two evenings, the campus community gathered to honor Menchaca’s final concerts as director of instrumental music, a role he has held since 1992. The performances carried a shared purpose, offering thanks through music and presence.
Friday night featured the University Band and Jazz Ensemble. On Saturday, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra took the stage, joined by Seraph Brass Quintet and alumni performers who returned to be part of the celebration. Together, the concerts reflected the depth and continuity of Concordia’s instrumental program.
The weekend created space for connection. Alumni greeted one another, families filled the audience and current students stepped into a tradition built over decades. For Menchaca, that sense of continuity has always mattered.
“This weekend was an unbelievable cap to very blessed 34-year run,” Menchaca said. “To have two sets of parents and children in the alumni band was quite an event.”
He noted the range of experiences woven into the performances, from student milestones to guest artistry.
“The weekend concerts were filled with so many story lines—our Symphonic Wind Ensemble being supported by the world-class brass quintet Seraph Brass,” he said. “The alumni band returned, with members from across the nation, as well as saying goodbye to all our talented music seniors and senior soloists.”
Menchaca has long found joy in seeing students grow into confident musicians and educators, and in watching those same individuals carry their gifts into classrooms and communities across the country.
That legacy was visible throughout the performances. Alumni returned not only to celebrate, but to play alongside current students. Each ensemble reflected the steady leadership and care that have defined Menchaca’s time at Concordia.
“It was quite overwhelming and joyful to see students and parents from each decade of service,” Menchaca said. “The concerts truly confirmed that the liberal arts music-making experience can positively impact lives. It also makes for both life-long partners as well as life-long friends.”
Saturday evening concluded with Menchaca’s final piece at the podium. As the music came to a close, the standing ovation that followed recognized more than a single moment. It honored years of teaching, mentorship and a commitment to helping students find their place on stage.
“It was a magical weekend,” Menchaca said.
While retirement brings a new season, Menchaca’s influence continues through the program he helped build and the people he has guided along the way. His work remains present in rehearsal rooms, classrooms and concert halls connected to Concordia.
To read more about Dr. Louis A. Menchaca’s retirement, see “A final ovation: Honoring Louis Menchaca’s 34 years at Concordia.”
Photo Gallery
Moments from the April 17–18 retirement concert weekend capture the music, the reunion and the final bow.
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