For June 2025, meet Tracy Oliver, clarinetist in the Naperville Municipal Band and NMB Big Band Director
Number of years in the NMB: I began playing in the Municipal Band in 1980. I was doing my student teaching with Ron Keller at Jefferson Junior High School. During the many conversations we had, I mentioned that I was concerned that I would not have any outlet to play in a band once I graduated. Ron invited me to a rehearsal with the band, which at that time rehearsed in the Jefferson Junior High band room.
Past and/or Current Occupation(s): I was an instrumental music director for the first 18 years of my career. The last eleven years as a band director was at Kennedy Junior High in District 203. In 1999, I began a new career as a database manager for District 203 until my retirement in 2019.
Hobbies or Interests outside of music: Computers became a serious hobby while I was teaching. I also have a long-held love of history. I thank Mr. Edmund Valade, a high school history teacher, for that enduring interest.
How many years have you played your clarinet and what drew you to your instrument? I began playing the clarinet in 5th grade. I was drawn to the clarinet because I listened to my Dad’s Benny Goodman records.
Why have you kept playing all of these years? I keep playing for the love of music.
Who was/is your greatest musical mentor and why? I would say Victor Zajec. He was my clarinet teacher at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. I learned a lot from him about not only performing on clarinet but also teaching the instrument.
What makes the Naperville Municipal Band and the Big Band so special? The fact that the band is made up of people of vastly varied backgrounds coming together to express their common love of music and sharing that with our community. The unity and comradery that exists in such a group is invaluable.
What is a favorite memory or funny story from playing in the Naperville Municipal Band or Big Band? The German Band, made up of 6 or 7 members of the Municipal Band, was playing a pool party on a summer afternoon. During the gig the pool area was invaded by a swarm of wasps. We were all swatting away wasps, music stands were knocked over, music was flying everywhere, musicians were jumping out of their chairs…..it was pandemonium! At one point the only music playing was Ron Keller’s oomp, ooomp, ooomp on his tuba! Eventually we all got our music back on the stands and once again seated to join Ron for the last section of that “solo tuba” polka!
