Mr. Sergei Nuissl: In Memorium
Kera McCarthy (12-3)
Sometimes, it is easiest to remember someone not by focusing on how they ended, but by finding the things through which their memory lives on. The All-City Orchestra, Band, and Choir gathered at the Kimmel Center early last Tuesday morning for COVID testing and a final dress rehearsal. At the top of the stairs across from the E1 entrance to Verizon Hall, Mr. Nathan Wessner stood arms crossed, leaning forward against the wood banister. He stood alone, staring off into the vastness of the Kimmel. Though not confirmed until later, Mr. Wessner was thinking of one of Philadelphia’s long term instrumental music teachers, Mr. Nuissl.
Mr. Nuissl started teaching in the School District of Philadelphia 12 years ago. As most can attest, instrumental music teachers bounce around from school to school across the city, and Mr. Nuissl was no different. One of the first schools he worked at was C.W. Henry, where he taught alongside colleagues Nathan Wessner (Director of Music for the School District of Philadelphia) and Josh Anderson (Brass Instrumental Music Teacher). “I think he started about the same time that a big group of us did in 2009 and we ended up doing the teacher induction together, the three of us: Mr. Chuong, myself, and Mr. Nuissl,” Anderson said. “I just remember having really good conversations with him. He was just a really good guy, really great teacher; kids really just absolutely adored and respected him,” Wessner added, continuing, “He was always very positive…I can see him [saying] ‘ok we’re good, we can do this.’”
Anderson recalled one of his first memories with Mr. Nuissl. “It was really great meeting him… and doing all the assignments for induction. Its not really the most fun thing but… we ended up having a good time, making the best of it. He was one of the nicest people I have encountered in the Instrumental Music Teacher (CIMT) community and… did the best he could with whatever he had.”
In more recent years, Mr. Nuissl taught at Central High School, filling in for a colleague during a semester. Benjamin Blazer, School-Based Teacher Leader (SBTL) for the arts at Central High School, said he adapted well. “It’s a tough situation to come in in middle of the year, and he was great,” Blazer added. “In between periods we would have really nice conversations in my office. He was always nice, talking about all sorts of things, and seemed to know about everything.”
In September of the 2020-21 school year, Mr. Nuissl joined the Masterman instrumental family as the new upper strings CIMT. Mrs. Neu, Masterman’s Music Director, described him as sweet, quirky, kind, and Masterman-like. “He totally fit in perfectly with our students here. He had that same kind of personality, that same kind of love for learning, and quirky charm,” Neu said. “After the kids performed [he had a] glowing look on his face. Even just at a regular rehearsal at 7:20am. After rehearsal he was glowing because he just loved making music with the kids.”
Elisabeth D'alessandro, the instrumental music teacher at Philadelphia High School for Girls, met Mr. Nuissl six years ago while they were working together at Girls’ High. “He was one of the kindest people I have ever met,” she said, “always conscientious, always looking out for other people. Just a sweetheart.”
Ardian Cani, instrumental music teacher and personal friend of Mr. Nuissl describes him as “a very very fine person, very good friend, and a very good musician.” The two would talk almost daily throughout the pandemic -- discussing concertos, European culture, and their families. When they didn’t talk for a few days, Cani recalls Mr. Nuissl calling him up and saying playfully, “Ardian! You didn’t call me!”
Two weeks ago, late on Monday night, instrumental music teachers in the school district received word that Mr. Nuissl had passed away. The specific circumstances of his death remain private at this time, but Mr. Nuissl had been in the hospital since early December due to complications from COVID-19.
“He used to bring sardines to work,” D'alessandro said with a laugh. Mr. Nuissl worked at Girls’ High on the same day as the brass teacher, who was not as fond of the smell of sardines. “They would tease each other about the sardines,” D'alessandro said, “and the first day after he passed, he [brass teacher] was like ‘there won’t be anymore sardines!’” “It’s a silly thing, but it was just so sad,” D'alessandro continued, “I still haven’t completely comprehended his loss and I’m sure that when we get to our spring concert, I’ll be bawling… because he should be here; he should be with us.”
Interviewees were spoken to individually, but all had one thing to say in common. As Ms. D’alessandro said, “he has left a hole, but I hope he goes on living in his students and that [they] are able to show other people the kindness and compassion that he did as a teacher.”
“Playing an instrument is very rewarding. Like anything else, we can only learn to play by doing it.”
~ Mr. Nuissl
(“Mr. Nuissl,” Salena Cho, Voices Oct. 2019)
For more about Mr. Nuissl please see Salena Cho’s article from the Voices October Issue: https://sites.google.com/philasd.org/mastermanvoices/2019-20/jan-2020/mr-nuissl