Rockwood South Middle - Rockwood Summit HIgh
Sadly, our Instrument Test Drive Night on January 7th has been cancelled due to weather.
Don't worry - we'll be coming to work with your student during school hours!!!
Bowles - Wednesday, January 8th
Kellison - Thursday, January 9th
Stanton - Friday, January 10th
Uthoff Valley - Monday, January 13th
Why Join Band in 6th Grade?
Beginning Band is a student’s ONLY entry point into the Rockwood Band Program - ANY student interested in band should start in the 6th grade!
Learn flute, clarinet, trumpet, French horn, trombone, or percussion!
Perform at two concerts, including a trip to Swing-A-Round Fun Town!
Make new friends you'll have for the next 7 years!
What Can You Do in Band?
Play concerts in Branson!
Play jazz in Chicago!
Overnight trips with the marching band!
Perform at basketball and football games!
March a parade in Disney World!
Visit Swing-A-Round Fun Town, Silver Dollar City, and compete at contests!
Eat SO MANY DONUTS!
... and so, so much more!!!
SIX performances at the highly prestigious MMEA state conference
Annual "Superior" ratings at State Contest
Area-leading representation in the SLSMEA All-Suburban Band
Marching band finalist appearances at national competitions
Rehearsals with world-class composers
Who Are The Teachers?
Angela Albrecht is in her 27th year of teaching and her 22nd year as the Director of Bands at Rockwood South Middle School. Her responsibilities include directing the 8th grade band, assisting with 7th grade band and teaching beginning flute, clarinet, saxophone and co-directing the jazz band.
Before accepting the position at Rockwood South Middle School in 2004, she previously taught in the Maplewood-Richmond Heights and Elsberry School Districts. She received her BME from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, her ME from Lindenwood University. She received the 2023-24 St. Louis Suburban Outstanding Music Educator Award and is a National Board Certified Teacher, a member of NAfME, RNEA, Phi Beta Mu and AAA. She resides in O’Fallon, Missouri with her husband Rich and cat Milo. Her daughter, Molly, is a junior at the University of Iowa majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
Jacob Bisaillon is the Percussion Director and Assistant Band Director at Rockwood Summit High School and Rockwood South Middle School, where he teaches percussion students in grades 6-12. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2012 and a Master of Music Education with an emphasis in instrumental conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023.
An active member of NAfME and PAS, Jacob brings a wealth of experience from his prior roles as a band director at Washington High School, St. John Vianney High School, and Galesburg High School. He resides in Webster Groves with his wife, Brook, and their two children. Outside of teaching, Jacob enjoys spending quality time with his family, playing drumset, cooking, and cheering on St. Louis City Soccer Club.
Jared Brockmeyer is currently serving in his 15th year as assistant director at Rockwood South Middle School.
A graduate of Truman State University (B.A., M.A., M.A.E.), Jared works with a wide range of musicians, from beginners to adults. He has been fortunate to appear in podcasts, websites, magazines, and conferences across the country, to conduct at MMEA and The Midwest Clinic, and to regularly work with performers in classrooms, honor bands, community bands, festivals, and marching ensembles. A passionate advocate for the marching arts, Jared has taught World-Class drum corps with DCI and DCUK, designed for State Champions and BOA Finalists, and judges movement and design on panels across the Midwest as an affiliate of BOA and CSJA.
Jared presently serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Manchester Community Band and as a visual technician for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. He is a National Board Certified teacher and member of Phi Beta Mu and ASBDA, and has been honored to serve MMEA as Band Vice President at the district and state levels, to be an RSMS Teacher of the Year, and to receive the St. Louis Suburban MMEA Outstanding Music Educator award.
Jared lives in House Springs, MO with his wife Sara and daughters Eliza and Fiona.
Ashlyn Descher is entering her 4th year of teaching, and this will be the 1st year as the assistant band director at Rockwood Summit High School. She completed her Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music Education, and Minor in Jazz Studies at Truman State University where she was an active member in the saxophone studio as well as in Wind Symphony 1 and Jazz Ensemble. She previously taught at Wentzville Holt HS and Wentzville MS as the Jazz Director and Assistant Director of Bands. Her pastimes include taking private lessons on flute, clarinet, and saxophone, running an active saxophone studio, subbing in the St. Louis Wind Symphony Community Band, buying Pokemon cards with her husband Grant Descher, and petting her cats Nina and Naima.
Danny Pace has been teaching music for 12 years, and this is his first as head band director at Rockwood Summit High School. He completed his undergraduate degree at Missouri State University, and his graduate work at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, IL.
In his current position, Danny teaches at Rockwood South Middle School as well as Rockwood Summit High School. At Rockwood South, his responsibilities include beginning trumpet, beginning low brass, assisting with the 7th grade band, and bringing turkey to the band staff Thanksgiving. At Rockwood Summit, he teaches the Concert Band and assists with the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band. Prior to his position at Rockwood, he taught at Springfield Catholic Schools, Pattonville, and Fort Zumwalt. He is a member of ASBDA, NAfME, and MBA. He is also a member of a performing duo with his wife, Liz (who is also a band director), called Pair of Paces.
FAQ
What is the time commitment like?
Students typically have 1-2 small assignments per week, manageable in 10-20 minutes apiece. Practices are during school, with only a few performances/concerts each year in the evening.
Can my child be in band AND their sport/activity/club?
ABSOLUTELY! We have students - middle and high school - who are in nearly every activity you can imagine and are still VERY successful in band!
What does band cost?
Instruments are rent-to-own, and some instruments are as little as $12 a month. We also offer school-owned instruments to families with financial need. We have room for EVERY student!
Can I join in 7th or 8th grade?
Due to the pace with which our program moves, joining "late" isn't a realistic option. If you're curious about band at all, give it a shot in 6th grade!
Questions? Contact brockmeyerjared@rsdmo.org for more info! We'd love to tell you ALL ABOUT what band can do for YOU!