About the Directors...

Mr. Brendan Koch is the George Washington Middle School band and orchestra director in Lyons - Brookfield SD 103.  A native of Chicago's southwest side, Mr. Koch began his music career at age 3 learning violin from the Sisters of St. Joseph at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, Il.  His studies in music included piano and voice and trumpet.  Mr. Koch has been teaching for over 20 years, having taught all grade levels from kindergarten to high school.  From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Koch served as music director for the Tinley Park "Arts Alive!" Community Band (now the Tinley Park Community Band).  He designed the music curriculum for the Senn Fine Arts Magnet Program at Nicholas Senn H.S. in Chicago, Il.  He is a 1995 graduate of St. Rita High School, earned his Bachelors of Music Education (Cum Laude) from St. Xavier University in Chicago, his Master's of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago and his Master's of Arts in School Counseling from Lewis University in Romeoville, Il.   

A proud father of two boys, Mr. Koch and his sons reside in Chicago's southwest suburbs.    

Mr. Brandon Jarot is the elementary band and orchestra teacher for Lyons Elementary School District 103. Mr. Jarot is a native of Plainfield, IL and began taking piano lessons in 2nd grade and chose trombone for 5th grade beginning band. Mr. Jarot studied trombone privately in high school at Joliet Junior College with Mr. Charles Morgan while attending Plainfield South High School and graduating in May 2014. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 2018 and performed trombone with many ensembles including The Marching Illini, UIUC Wind Symphony, University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He had the opportunity to perform with the Marching Illini in the 2015 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade as well as the 2018 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. 

Mr. Jarot taught 3 - 8 music and 5 - 8 band at John F. Kennedy School in Spring Valley, IL from 2018 - 2024. While in the Illinois Valley, he taught private beginning piano and brass lessons at Maestro & Mi in downtown La Salle, IL as well as performed with local ensembles including principal bass trombone with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra and bass trombone with the Illinois Valley Community College Jazz and Wind Ensemble. 

Mr. Jarot also holds a master's degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and resides with his wonderful wife Veronica in Elmhurst, IL.