Dear Parents,

Thank you for choosing to be a part of the Traughber Junior High Band Program.  Your decision to provide your child with a quality music experience is an investment in your child`s future. This page provides information, as well as answers, to many of the questions people have about the Traughber Band Program.

The Band Program

The Bands at Traughber Junior High School are part of a curricular music program. 

6th Grade Beginning Band

The 6th Grade Band is a beginning band class with instruction beginning during the summer prior to the current school year.  The beginning band will perform in four concerts throughout the year.  They will also be required to prepare and perform a solo for the Oswego 6th Grade Solo Recital.  The 6th grade band class meets everyday and is part of the students` daily academic routine at Traughber Junior High.

If a student in 7th or 8th grade who did not join band in 6th grade desires to be in band, that student must start with the beginning band students and will be placed in 6th grade band for the school year.

A student moving into the Oswego school district with experience in band will perform an audition in order to determine proper placement in the band program.

7th Grade Concert Band

The Concert Band consists of primarily 7th Graders in their second year of instruction.  The Concert Band members will perform in four concerts, Oswego Organization Contest, and in the Solo and Ensemble Festival. Select students will also have the opportunity to audition for the IMEA District IX Festival Concert Band and Jazz Band.

8th Grade Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band consists of primarily 8th Graders in their third year of instruction.  The Symphonic Band members will perform in four concerts, Oswego Fine Arts Festival, and perform in the Solo and Ensemble Festival. Select students will also have the opportunity to audition for the IMEA District IX Festival Concert Band and Jazz Band.

Full Band Rehearsals

All Band members will need to attend full band rehearsals prior to each concert for the purpose of rehearsing musical elements related to the coordination of the different sections of the band. Full Band Rehearsals will be held before school.

Program Honors

The Traughber Band extends sincere thanks and gratitude to the following people who have worked with the band and contributed to the success of our students and band program.

Clinicians:

Dr. Harry Begian (Univ of Illinois, retired)

Mr. Kenneth G. Bloomquist (Michigan State University Director of Bands Emeritus)

Dr. David Gillingham (Central Michigan University)

Dr. Larry Stoffel (CSU Northridge) 

Dr. Deb Confredo (Temple University)

Dr. Ryan Hourigan (Ball St. University)  

Dr. Ken Thompson (Bowling Green St.)   

Dr. Larry Van Oyen (North Central Coll.,  Naperville)   

Dr. Dale Lonis  (Elgin Symphony Orchestra)

Dr. Joe Manfredo (Univ. of Illinois)   

Mr. Don DeRoche (DePaul University)

Mr. Douglas Akey (Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, AZ)

Mr. Dan Farris (Northwestern University)

Mr. Tom Brawner (Scott Co. Kentucky)

Mr. Brian Wis (Retired, St. Charles North H.S.)  

Mr. Jim Stombres (Retired, St. Charles North H.S.)

Mr. Bill Jastrow (Retired, Neuqua Valley H. S.)

Mr. Ross Kellen (Glenbard East H.S. retired, Elmhurst College)  

Mr. Pete Pappas (Glenbrook South H.S. retired)  

Mrs. Margene Pappas (Oswego H.S. retired) 

Mr. Don Shupe (Libertyville H.S. retired)

Mr. Glenn Schneider (Metea Valley H.S.)

Mr. Keith Ozsvath (Rotollo Middle School)

Mr. John Thomson (Libertyville H.S. retired)

Mr. John Timmins (Crone M.S.)

Dr. Pete Griffin (Elmhurst University)

Mr. Dan Valkema (Plainfield Central H.S.)

Dr. James Hile (Elmhurst University)

Mr. Chip Staley (Nequa Valley H.S. retired)

Dr. Tim Yontz (Wheaton College)

​Ms. Emily Binder (Nequa Valley H.S.)

Ms. Judy Grimes (Elmhurst College, retired)

Mr. Randy Sundell (Vernon Hills H.S.)

Ms. Stacey Dolan Larson (VanderCook College of Music)

Mr. Mike Fisk (Joliet Central H.S., retired)

​Mr. Wayne Gordon (Wood Oaks Middle School)

Mrs. Lila Fagan (West Aurora-Retired)

Mr. Kurt Gross (Warren HS)

Ms. Wendy Higdon (Creekside MS, Carmel, IN)

Mr. Don Stinson (Joliet Central HS)

Performance Honors:

University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival

Prairie State MS Concert Band Festival-A Music for All Regional Affiliate Festival

Plainfield Invitational Band Festival

IGSMA State Contest

IMEC (Illinois Music Educator`s Association) State Convention

American School Band Director's Association National Convention

The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic

Commission and World Premier of the John Mackey composition, Sheltering Sky

Commission and World Premier of the Donald Grantham composition, Sol y' Sombra

Commission and World Premier of the Scott McAllister composition, Atmospheres

Commission and World Premier of the Julie Giroux composition, Our Cast Aways

Commission and World Premier of the David Biedenbender composition, Dream of Ember, Dream of Star

Commission and World Premier of the JaRod Hall composition, Black Star Alpha

The Traughber Band has visited:

Northern Illinois University

Northwestern University

DePaul University

Illinois State University

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Orchestra Hall

VanderCook College of Music