Halftime show, memorial to mark passing of Murrieta Valley HS band director

Rick Lorenzen

The death of Murrieta Valley High School Band Director Rick Lorenzen has brought together a community of students, teachers and colleagues to help carry on the legacy the respected teacher has left behind.

Band directors from area middle schools have agreed to step in for Lorenzen for the band’s scheduled events.

“This not usual,” said Karen Parris, spokeswoman for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. “A number of his students were in middle school and these teachers are now stepping up to do what they can to keep the band program going.”

Lorenzen, 52, was found at his desk Oct. 25 as students arrived for a regularly scheduled 5:30 p.m. band practice. There had been no indication of any underlying health issues with him, Parris said.

Murrieta Valley High School Principal Renate Jefferson said Lorenzen’s brother mentioned that their father died of a heart attack in his early 50’s. Lorenzen is survived by his brother.
Parris said Lorenzen’s students and several teachers are committed to continuing the marching season.

“They’re moving forward to continue his legacy and everything he’s worked so hard toward.”

A halftime show in memory of Lorenzen will be held during Friday’s Murrieta Valley football game against Great Oak High School at Murrieta Valley High School.

A community memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the school’s performing arts center.

In a district Web site post dedicated to Lorenzen, several students left comments about the impact Lorenzen made in their lives.

“I have never known anyone who was so committed,” said one student.

“He was a giant in my life — actually, he was like a father figure to me,” said another. “You spend so much time on the field and in the classroom practicing that you get to know each other well. He motivated me to do my very best each time we started playing.”

Parris said there has been an outpouring of comments and remembrances.

“It’s certainly always difficult to lose a teacher, a colleague and a friend,” Parris said. “Mr. Lorenzen was highly respected and students have made really close connections with him since he’s been at the school.”

Read related story: Murrieta Valley High School community mourns loss of teacher

Yazmin Alvarez can be reached at yazmin.alvarez@swrnn.com.

Tags: Karen Parris, murrieta valley high school, murrieta valley unified school district, rick lorenzen, SDNN, SWRNN

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