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HANNAH DRAKE  Director of Bands

Ms. Hannah Drake has been the director of bands at Wheaton Warrenville South High School since 2021. Her current responsibilities include directing three curricular Concert Bands, Percussion Ensemble, competitive Marching Band, and Pep Band, as well as leading the Intro to Teaching program. She has also taught Music Technology, Music Theory, and AP Music Theory. Prior to her time at WWS, she was the Assistant Band Director at Hoffman Estates High School for four years. Under her baton, the Wheaton Warrenville South High School Wind Symphony was invited to perform as a demonstration ensemble at the 76th annual Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic in December 2022. Additionally, the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Marching Band was selected to perform in the 2025 Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

In the spring of 2017, Ms. Drake earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating with high honors. She received the Guy M. Duker Instrumental Music Education Award, as well as the Gary E. Smith Excellence in Leadership Award. While at the University of Illinois, Ms. Drake performed in a variety of ensembles, including the Illinois Wind Orchestra, Marching Illini, Black Chorus, Gamelan Ensemble, and many others. Ms. Drake studied flute with Professor Jonathan Keeble and studied conducting with Dr. Ashley Jarrell, Dr. Elizabeth Peterson, and Professor Barry Houser. 

In the summer of 2025, Ms. Drake earned her Masters Degree in Music Education at Illinois State University, where she studied conducting with Dr. Anthony Marinello III. Ms. Drake’s academic work has been published in the Winter 2018 and Fall 2025 publications of the Illinois Music Educator Journal and the Summer 2020 National Band Association Journal. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Band Association (NBA), and Kappa Kappa Psi. Ms. Drake currently resides in Downers Grove, Illinois with her partner Jeff and their sweet pup, Nova.