President: Meagan Zahora
Upon Graduating Illinois State University in May 2013 with a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Music Education, Ms. Zahora began her job as a high school and junior high Choir Director, Music Technology teacher, Music Theatre Teacher, Class Guitar instructor, and 6th Grade General Music Teacher at Morrison Community School District Unit 6 in the fall of 2013. At MHS, she directs the Morrison Madrigal Singers, Symphonic Choir, 6th Grade Choir, Jr High Mixed Choir and the annual spring musical. Music Technology, Class Guitar, and Music Theatre were classes added in 2014 as a part of the school's desire to give students a wider range of extracurricular classes to choose from.
After three years of teaching in Morrison, Illinois, Ms Zahora accepted the Director of Choral Activities position at Elgin High School in District U-46. This is where she currently resides and teaches five curricular choirs that range from beginning ensembles to advanced auditioned ensembles. Ms Zahora has about 120 students currently enrolled in her program at Elgin. Aside from conducting these choirs, she is also in charge of the musical in February and the Madrigal Dinner/Tea in December. Ms Zahora started the very first Acapella Club at Elgin and continues to conduct an after school Bass voice ensemble.
After three years of teaching in Morrison, Illinois, Ms Zahora accepted the Director of Choral Activities position at Elgin High School in District U-46. This is where she currently resides and teaches five curricular choirs that range from beginning ensembles to advanced auditioned ensembles. Ms Zahora has about 120 students currently enrolled in her program at Elgin. Aside from conducting these choirs, she is also in charge of the musical in February and the Madrigal Dinner/Tea in December. Ms Zahora started the very first Acapella Club at Elgin and continues to conduct an after school Bass voice ensemble.
Vice President: Brian Liska
Brian Liska graduated from Naperville North High School in 2001 and went on to study Music Education at North Central College. While at North Central, Brian sat first chair bassoon for four years in the Concert Band and Concert Winds. He was a co-conductor of the Bolingbrook Community Orchestra, and the first drum major of The Red Noise (NCC's pep band). He also played in many of the pit orchestras for North Central's musicals.
Brian graduated with honors from North Central College in 2005 and also received the Outstanding Senior Band Member Award and the Outstanding Music Education Major Award that year. In 2018 he graduated from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago with a Masters Degree in Music Education.
Brian started working at East Aurora High School in the fall of 2005. He prides himself on picking challenging music for his students and pushing them to be the best they can be. Students at East Aurora have performed at Walt Disney World, New York City, University of Illinois in Chicago, and Purdue University just to name a few.
Brian graduated with honors from North Central College in 2005 and also received the Outstanding Senior Band Member Award and the Outstanding Music Education Major Award that year. In 2018 he graduated from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago with a Masters Degree in Music Education.
Brian started working at East Aurora High School in the fall of 2005. He prides himself on picking challenging music for his students and pushing them to be the best they can be. Students at East Aurora have performed at Walt Disney World, New York City, University of Illinois in Chicago, and Purdue University just to name a few.
Secretary: Alexa Mount
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Alexa is in her 6th year of teaching at Bartlett High School and this is her second year as Secretary for the Fox Valley Music Festival. Her Music Education degree is from Illinois State University and she grew up in the Fox Valley area and attended the festival as a high schooler.
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Treasurer: John Damore
Mr. John Damore graduated from Romeoville High School in 2005 and then from Illinois State University in 2010. While at ISU, Mr. Damore performed on the trombone in Concert and Jazz settings and on baritone and as drum major in the marching band, ISU’s Big Red Marching Machine. Mr Damore played baritone with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps from 2006 to 2008.
Prior to teaching at East Aurora, Mr. Damore taught middle school and beginning band and spent his evenings working with competitive marching bands and indoor drumlines at Downers Grove South High School and Minooka High School. He taught the Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps in 2009 and 2010 and the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2011.
Prior to teaching at East Aurora, Mr. Damore taught middle school and beginning band and spent his evenings working with competitive marching bands and indoor drumlines at Downers Grove South High School and Minooka High School. He taught the Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps in 2009 and 2010 and the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2011.
Division Chairs
Band: Joe Kulick
Joe Kulick currently holds a B.M.E. from Kansas State University. During his time there, he studied with Dr. Kurt Gartner and was involved in many ensembles, including a student-lead Percussion Ensemble, a Jazz Combo, and a Latin Jazz Ensemble. He also won Second place in the Kansas State University Honors Recital, and was a winner of the Concerto Competition, where he had the opportunity to perform with the Kansas State Orchestra. Joe was a member of Cavalier Drum and Bugle Corps from 2010 to 2013. In 2014, and taught Cavaliers indoor in 2016 and 2017. Joe traveled to Cuba to study Latin Percussion with some of the best players in the country, and plans to return to continue his studies.
Joe is currently pursuing his masters degree in music education at VanderCook College of Music, focusing his studies on styles and influences of the music from Cuba, and plans to complete his research in 2020. Joe’s wide variety of performance experience and interest in music technology provides the students of East Aurora High School with a unique and cutting-edge education in a variety of music origins and influences, and opportunities to learn the processes of recording and producing music.
Joe is currently pursuing his masters degree in music education at VanderCook College of Music, focusing his studies on styles and influences of the music from Cuba, and plans to complete his research in 2020. Joe’s wide variety of performance experience and interest in music technology provides the students of East Aurora High School with a unique and cutting-edge education in a variety of music origins and influences, and opportunities to learn the processes of recording and producing music.
Choir: Amanda Brex-Castillo
Amanda Brex-Castillo, soprano, received her BME in choral/vocal music education from Northern Illinois University in 2008. There she studied voice with soprano Diane Ragains and choral music with Dr. Eric Johnson. Professional performances include those with New Classic Singers, Cor Cantiamo, St. Charles Singers, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Voix de la femme. Amanda has been privileged to work with directly with the acclaimed composers and conductors, Morten Lauridsen, John Rutter, and Simon Carrington. Amanda has spent the last decade teaching private voice lessons for many schools in the D300 & D155 districts. She is currently the choral director at South Elgin High School & Kenyon Woods Middle School in U-46. This is her second year back in the classroom and she LOVES it!
