1201

35th Street (847) 987-9444

Rock Island, Illinois 61201 David T. Grayson [email protected]

Education
o Masters – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Expected July 2021
• Master of Music Education (MME), GPA 4.0
• Illinois Summer Youth Music (ISYM) Counselor Assistantship for full Tuition Waiver
o Bachelors – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graduated May 2013
• Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Instrumental (Band), GPA 3.60
• Special Teaching Certificate (K-12) Music, Type 10 – Initial

Teaching Experience
o Sherrard Jr. Sr. High School, Sherrard, IL August 2016 to Present
• Director of Bands (6-12): Marching Tigers, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Band II, Basketball Pep
Band, Musical Pit Band, Percussion Ensemble, Music Theory Class, Concert Band, Beginning Band
- ILMEA All-State: Jazz Ensemble selected to perform at the 2020 Illinois Music Education Conference.
Multiple students selected for the ILMEA All-State/Honors Band/Jazz each year
- Jazz Program has grown from 14 to 50 students and established first-ever Jazz Band II
- Established Music Theory Class and Percussion Ensemble
- Purchased & designed new marching band uniforms and new 24’ band trailer
- Restarted the Sherrard Music Boosters with consistent parent participation and large fundraisers
• ILMEA Clinician: Performance presentation at the 2020 Illinois Music Education Conference (IMEC)
• Hosted: Started an annual Sherrard Jazz Showcase (now in its 4th year) with 11 high school & college jazz
bands. Hosted 2019 ILMEA District 2 Jazz & Elementary Music Festival, 2019 & 2020 IGSMA Organizational
Contest, and 2018 TRAC & PLC Conference Band Festivals
• Travel: 2019 St. Louis Jazz Tour, 2017 Band Disney World Trip to Orlando, IHSA/IGSMA/ILMEA contests,
multiple Chicago Day Trips, and many marching/jazz competitions around the State of Illinois
• Program Awards:
- Marching Tigers: Metamora HS Marching Competition: 2017, 2018, & 2019 1st Place (Best Winds,
Percussion, Auxiliary, & Drum Majors), 2016 2nd Place (Best Winds). Geneseo HS Marching Competition:
2017 & 2019 1st Place (Best Winds, Percussion, Auxiliary, & Drum Majors). Washington HS Marching
Competition: 2019 1st Place, 2017 3rd Place. Prospect HS Marching Competition: 2019 3rd Place.
Northern Illinois University Marching Competition: 2016 2nd Place. Western Illinois University Marching
Competition: 2018 3rd Place. 2017 & 2019 University of Illinois Marching Band Championship
- Symphonic Band: IHSA Organizational: Division I (yearly)
- Jazz Ensemble: Jazz In The Meadows Competition: 2020 2nd Place (Div. I) & 2019 4th Place (Div. I) Class
1A. IHSA Organizational: Division I. Selected & Performed at 2020 IMEC All-State
- Jr. High Bands: IGSMA State Organizational: 2017, 2019, & 2020 Division I (Concert Band & Jazz Band)
- IHSA Sweepstakes Class B: 2019 & 2020 Solo & Ensemble 6th Place Class B, 2018 Solo & Ensemble 7th
Place Class B, 2017 Overall 10th Place Class B, 2017 Solo & Ensemble 8th Place Class B

o Streator Township High School, Streator, IL August 2014 to June 2016

• Director of Bands: Marching Bulldogs, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Basketball Pep Band
- Established the first ever Wind Ensemble (top band of two) at Streator
- Grew the band program and restored the school’s auditorium
- Taught Music Appreciation class, Student Mentoring class, and daily band lessons
• Director of Choirs: Concert Choir and Varsity Choir (award-winning)
• Travel: 2015 Band Disney World Trip to Orlando, IHSA & ILMEA contests, and marching/jazz competitions
• Program Awards: Marching, Concert, and Jazz Bands
- 2nd place at the 2014 University of Illinois Marching Band Championship (first time in program history)
- 2nd places at the 2015 Washington, Pontiac, & Metamora, and 2014 Dunlap marching competitions
- Division I Rating: 2015 Jazz in the Meadows Competition. 2015 & 2016 IHSA Organizational Contests

o Millburn School District #24, Wadsworth, IL August 2013 to June 2014

• Band Director: 4th grade Beginning Band, 5th grade Concert Band II, 6th grade Concert Band I
• Teacher: Millburn Guitar Club (6-8th grades): Started the first ever Guitar Club at Millburn Middle School

o Highland Park HS & Deerfield HS, IL - Substitute Teacher August 2013 to June 2014
Student Teaching Experience
o Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL Spring 2013
Cooperating Teachers: Dr. David Fodor and Mr. Matthew Bufis
• Concert/Jazz Bands and helped with the organization of the major ETHS Jazz Festival
o Wilmette Junior High School and Highcrest Middle School, Wilmette, IL Spring 2013
Cooperating Teachers: Mr. Rob Blim and Ms. Ann Dufek
• 5th-8th grade Concert/Jazz bands, group lessons, hosted IGSMA band festival, and traveled to SuperState

Related Experience
o Illinois Summer Youth Music (ISYM) - Camp Counselor 2019 to Present
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
• Assistantship for full Masters Degree Tuition Waiver, meals, room & board, plus stipend
o Music Arranger and Marching Drill Writer August 2009 to Present
Sherrard High School and Streator Twp. High School
• Drill Writer for the competitive Marching Tigers (2016-Present) & Marching Bulldogs (2014-2015)
• Music Arranger for the competitive Marching Tigers & Pep Band (2016-Present) & Marching Bulldogs (2015)
• Won and placed at high school and college level marching competitions with my drill & music arrangements
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
• Drill Writer for the Marching Illini (2010-2012)
• Music Arranger for the Marching Illini, Basketball Bands and Tuba & Euphonium Ensemble
• Performed in the U of I Wind Symphony (top band), Philharmonic Orchestra, 9 other individual ensembles,
and was the Marching Illini & Basketball Band Sousaphone Section Leader
o Published Articles September 2017 to Present
Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) - Illinois Music Educator Journal
• “Teaching Music in a Small School: Realities, Successes, and Advice” – Winter 2017 | Volume 78 Number 2
Indiana Music Education Association (IMEA) - INform Journal
• “Teaching Music in a Small School: Realities, Successes, and Advice” – Winter 2018 | Volume 72 Issue 2
Dispatch Ÿ Argus Newspaper & QCOnline.com (September 2, 2017)
• “Sherrard’s music man brings pride to Marching Tigers” – Sunday Paper, front page, September 3, 2017
o Volunteer
Rock Island High School, Rock Island, IL – Mr. Peter Calin Fall 2019 to Present
• Band Staff: Assistant with the Pride of Rock Island Marching Band and Brass Section Tech
Highland Park High School, Highland Park, IL - Mentor: Dr. James Hile Fall 2008 to Summer 2014
• Assisted with Marching, Concert, and Jazz Bands and conducted Summer Band and Pep Band
• Teacher for Marching Band Camp (Summer 2012 and 2013)
• Music Arranger (Fall 2005 to Summer 2013): Arranged music for athletic bands and fall 2008 musical

Honors
o University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Graduate School GPA: 4.0 (Summer 2019-Present), Graduated
High Honors (Spring 2013), and Dean’s List (Fall 2010, 2012)
o Scholarships: North Shore Education Association (2009) and Patrons of the Arts Scholarship (2008)
o Awards: Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) Talented Student Award (Fall 2009 to Spring 2013)
Organizations
o Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity (Alpha Xi Chapter, University of Illinois)
o Professional Memberships: National Band Association (Member since Spring 2012), National Association for
Music Education/Illinois Music Education Association (Member since Fall 2010), and Jazz Education Network
(Member since Fall 2018)
o Conferences: Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinics, Chicago, IL (2005 to Present) and Illinois Music Education
Conference (IMEC), Peoria, IL (2014 to Present)

 1201 35th Street (847) 987-9444
Rock Island, Illinois 61201 David T. Grayson [email protected]

References

Mr. Tim Wernentin Mr. Michael Applegate

Principal Activities Director
Sherrard High School Sherrard High School
4701 176th Avenue 4701 176th Avenue
Sherrard, IL 61281 Sherrard, IL 61281
E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Phone: (309) 593-2175 Phone: (309) 593-2175

Mr. Peter Carlin Ms. Mary Jo Papich
Director of Bands Jazz Education Network – Founder/Past-President
Rock Island High School Retired Fine Arts Department Chair
1400 25th Avenue 125 SW Jefferson Avenue, Suite 222
Rock Island, IL 61201 Peoria, IL 61602
E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (309) 269-6184 Phone: (224) 383-5962

Dr. David Fodor Dr. James Hile
Retired Band Director Director of Bands
Evanston Township High School and Assistant Professor
8926 Bennett Avenue Elmhurst University
Evanston, IL 60203 190 S. Prospect Ave.
E-mail: [email protected] Elmhurst, IL 60126
Phone: (224) 578-2310 E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (224) 277-8456