About the Director
Hello Band Humans!
My name is Aaron Gosnell, and I am beyond excited to introduce myself as the new 6-12 Band Director here in Williamsville! For the last four years, I have watched the Bullet Bands achieve some amazing things and cannot wait to bring my leadership & expertise to the table. Let’s see how much more we can accomplish together! Being officially hired tonight, I wanted to send a short letter to introduce myself.
I grew up just a short drive south, in Taylorville, IL. I joined band and orchestra in 5th grade only because my best friend did. A few years later, we learned guitar, started a punk rock band, and I absolutely fell in love with music. In high school I was a district jazz & concert musician for three years, and went to All-State for jazz during my senior year.
From 2012-2016, I lived in Nashville, TN and attended Belmont University. As a Bruin, I studied classical and commercial saxophone and music education. I also did the whole Nashville ‘thing’ of starting a band, playing Downtown Broadway, and recorded on a few albums. Nashville was also where I had my coolest-musical-performance yet: singing in front of 50,000-ish people with the Rolling Stones!
For the last four years I have served as the Band Director at New Berlin CUSD #16. Three of those years, I was the choir director as well. While at New Berlin, my two biggest accomplishments were starting a curricular Jazz Band and growing the choir from eleven to 60+ members. Under my lead, the Marching Pride also brought home its first field show competition win and New Berlin has had its largest band program ever!
I currently live in Taylorville with my wife (and high school sweetheart), Rani and our two terriers, Jack & Eddie. Rani and I also foster dogs that are looking for a home. We have been married for almost two years, and are expecting a little girl in November! When I’m not making music, I love to read, meditate, work out, and spend time at my family’s farm, keeping bees.