For April 2025, meet Bill Jastrow, NMB Associate Band Director and Percussionist
Instrument: I generally use two sticks as a percussionist, but only one as a conductor.
Number of years in the NMB: My first interaction with the NMB took place in 2005 as a guest conductor. Over the years it has been my pleasure to be a “Percussionist on Call,” an arranger, and a returning guest conductor for the band. I began my position as Associate Music Director in the fall of 2023. However, my indirect connection with the NMB dates back to the start of my friendship with Ron Keller in the early 1980’s when he was teaching at Jefferson JHS and I was teaching at Glenbard South High School.
Past and/or Current Occupation(s): Retired music educator with connections to Glenbard H.S. District 87, Homewood-Flossmoor H.S. District 233, and Indian Prairie School District 204.
Hobbies or Interests outside of music: Bicycling, books on American history and Sherlock Holmes, watching baseball (Little League to professional), visiting US National Parks and Monuments, and spending time with my family, especially my two grandchildren.
When did you start playing your instrument and conducting? What drew you to these things? In 4th grade the JHS Band came to my elementary school to play a concert. My class was assigned to sit on the floor right up by the band. My floor spot placed me directly across from the timpani. I could see my face in the bowl of the drum. Pretty cool, so when registration for 5th Grade Beginning Band came around I told my parents I wanted to play drums. And the beat goes on.
I do not remember exactly when, but I do have memories of conducting my imaginary band in the living room to my parents’ LPs, specifically an album of Sousa marches and the soundtrack to Victory at Sea. My first time on the podium to conduct a real live band came in 8th grade when my band director gave me the opportunity to conduct Military Escort March at a concert. Not planned, but somewhat fitting, Military Escort March was the last piece I conducted with the Neuqua Valley H.S. Band before retiring. On occasion I still practice conducting my imaginary band at home, but with a much better sound system.
Other than with the NMB, do you play or conduct anywhere else? Over the years I have been very fortunate to have had numerous opportunities to perform with or conduct outstanding junior high school, senior high school, collegiate, and adult community bands and orchestras. Since retiring from full time teaching in 2011, I have been a member of the DuPage Symphony Orchestra percussion section. Before taking on the position of Associate Director with the NMB I typically had 2-3 festival guest conducting engagements a year. These days my conducting energies are primarily dedicated to the NMB.
Why have you kept playing and conducting all of these years? The best explanation I can offer is simply to experience the magic that music can bring to our lives. The mesmerizing, but unexplainable moments when sounds captivate our thinking and touch our hearts. A moment when you have been, as Aaron Copland described it, “inside and outside of the music at the same time,” even if for just a moment. Truly experiencing the music in a way like the composer might have when the idea awakened and took form.
Over the years I have shared the following story with many students. I first encountered Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique Symphony (Symphony No. 6) in high school as a percussionist in a community orchestra. I was assigned the crash cymbal part which entails just 4 crashes in the entire 45 minute symphony, all of which occur in the 3rd movement. I counted my 230+ measures rest, played my part and sat down. Then the magic happened. To this day I have no objective explanation as to why the final 18 measures of the 3rd movement are never played out for me. 28 seconds of sounds that cracked open a door to a vast world of artistic thought, creativity, and feeling that I might have never known existed had I not been part of my high school music program.
The musical challenges, rewards, fun and mesmerizing moments continue now with the NMB. At our last concert a performance of Puccini’s aria Nessun Dorma from the opera Turandot with euphonium soloist Joseph Bello was mesmerizing. Beautiful sounds brought members of the audience and myself to tears. Musical MAGIC that makes every minute of practice, score study, and rehearsal worthwhile.
Who were/are your greatest musical mentors and why? From 5th grade band, through high school, undergrad and graduate school, and into the early years of my teaching career, I was very fortunate to benefit from the teaching, work ethic, guidance, and friendship of a parade of exceptional music educators starting with Joel Streightiff at what was then Flossmoor JHS.
Without any doubt my high school director at Homewood-Flossmoor Robert Hindsley, and my collegiate director at the University of Illinois, Dr. Harry Begian, were the two most influential persons in guiding me to discover my passion and realizing my potential as a music educator. In very different ways, Mr. Hindsley and Dr. Begian set a very high bar for what it means to be a professional educator, and an inspiring, life impacting music director for students of any age, including adults. Long after I left their rehearsal rooms, both remained mentors/friends I could call upon any time for advice, instruction, or encouragement. Fortunately, to this day Bob Hindsley remains not only a mentor, but a dear friend,
Every teacher in the early part of their career needs someone nearby to talk with; to be a role model. Someone who can be trusted to provide honest direct feedback, along with advice based on experience, and some encouragement. I will be forever grateful to Ross Kellan, former Director of Bands and Music Department Chairperson at Glenbard East H.S. Suffice to say, Ross was the kind of teacher that any parent would wish for their child in any subject at any level. Ross was the kind of teacher, musician and friend that I still aspire to be when I step on the podium in front of the NMB.
What makes the Naperville Municipal Band so special? There are multiple components and contributors to what makes the NMB not only a treasured part of our community, but a respected and admired musical organization well beyond our city limits. That said, there are two things that standout about this community band: its history and the dedication of the musicians who have been and currently are members of the NMB. The origins of the NMB date back to 1859 with the founding of the Naperville Brass Band. Thanks to the dedication of past Music Director Ron Keller and his wife, Vicki, historical records, concert programs, and photos of the band have been preserved in detail. 2028 will be the centennial of the band officially being named the Naperville Municipal Band. How exciting! And obviously the Naperville Brass Band, Light Guard Band, City Band and NMB never would have formed let alone sustained over the years without dedicated, lifelong musicians and civic leaders from all walks of life who place a high value on sharing the gift of music with our community, be it on a summer night in Central Park, in a concert hall at a local school, or by a memorial honoring those who have served our country and our city.
Save May 18 to attend the annual NMB Spring Concert
Editor’s Note / Save the May date for the annual Spring Concert, a Celebration of the “Classics.” The concert will feature the NMB Big Band and the Naperville Municipal Band sharing the stage at Neuqua Valley High School at 2360 95th Street beginning at 3PM Sun., May 18, 2025. The concert is open to the public and free of admission charge.
For more info, visit www.napervilleband.org.
