Prairie Grove Bands

Mr. Crylen became the Band Director at Prairie Grove CSD 46 in 2018. His duties at Prairie Grove include directing the Beginning Band, Cadet Band, Concert Band, Advanced Band, Jazz Band 1, Jazz Band 2, and small group lessons for all band students. Under Mr. Crylen's direction, the Prairie Grove Bands have been represented at the state and national level, including performance at the Illinois Music Education Conference (2022: Jazz Band 1, 2024: Advanced Band) and the Jazz Education Network Conference (2024: Jazz Band 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana).

Additionally, the Prairie Grove Bands have consistently earned Division I ratings at local and state festivals, including the Illinois Grade School Music Association district and state band festivals, the Jazz in the Meadows festival, and the Mundelein Jazz Invitational (2023: JH Outstanding Section Award - Trumpets & Trombones). Students have also frequently earned Division I ratings at Solo & Ensemble contest. Outside of Prairie Grove, Mr. Crylen also serves as the Assistant Marching Band Director and Director of Jazz Studies at Prairie Ridge High School. He has also served as an adjudicator for Solo & Ensemble and Large Ensemble Organizational contests.

In addition to his various teaching responsibilities, Mr. Crylen is also an active musician as a member of the trumpet section with the Northshore Concert Band and the cornet section with the Chicago Brass Band. He has also performed as a member of the trumpet sections with the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra and the Wheaton Municipal Band.

Mr. Crylen earned his Bachelor of Music Education and his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with Honors. He is a recipient of the prestigious Mark H. Hindsley Award for his commitment and musical contributions to the University of Illinois Bands Program. He is also a Founding Member of the Nu Xi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity. In February of 2021, he was honored to have received the Star 105.5 February "Teacher of the Month" Award.

Mr. Crylen is an active member of the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA), Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA), Jazz Education Network (JEN), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Band Association (NBA). Outside of his involvement in music, he enjoys watching baseball (Go, Cubs, Go!) and spending time with family, friends, and his wife, Karen, and their dog, Maple. Of course, he would be remiss if he did not mention his love of (or, perhaps, addiction to) coffee, particularly Dunkin' Donuts.