Aaron Kennedy has been the Director of Bands at Downers Grove South High School since 2022. He conducts or assists with each of the curricular concert bands on campus, the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Freshman Band, and Percussion Ensemble. Additionally, Mr. Kennedy is the director of the Marching Mustangs and oversees performances of all the athletic band performances. 

Prior to joining the Downers Grove South music staff, Mr. Kennedy was first hired as the Assistant Band Director in O’Fallon CCSD 90 in 2017. He taught the 7th and 8th grade bands, District 90 Jazz Bands, 5th grade beginner classes, and assisted with the Marching Panthers at O’Fallon Township High School. In 2019, he was appointed to the position of Associate Director of Bands at Lockport Township High School.  At Lockport, Mr. Kennedy conducted the Symphonic and Concert bands.

Mr. Kennedy graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017. In 2023, Mr. Kennedy earned his Master's in Music Education from Ball State University. In his spare time Mr. Kennedy enjoys playing his saxophone, playing video games, traveling, and spending time with Mrs. Kennedy and his dog Coco. 

​Shane Nelson graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he earned his Bachelors of Music Education with a concentration in instrumental music. There, he studied percussion with William Moersch and Ricardo Flores. In addition to percussion, he studied drumset with Drew Cox as part of the jazz percussion studio. While at UIUC, he participated in multiple bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, percussion ensemble, steel band, and played snare in the Marching Illini Drumline. Prior to Downers Grove, Mr. Nelson taught in Chicago Public Schools at Curie Metro High School where he taught band and general music as well as Oswego East High School where he was an assistant band director.

​Mr. Nelson is passionate about performing as a percussionist and drumset player around the Chicagoland area. When he is not playing or teaching music, Mr. Nelson enjoys working on his project car, hiking, playing video games, and going to concerts!