District band director brings international training back to the classroom

Roberto Carrillo, who directs the band for Chute Middle School, Lincolnwood, Lincoln and Walker Elementary schools, spent his summer training alongside top orchestral musicians in England, and he's bringing what he learned straight back to his students across the district. Carrillo studied at the Oxford Cello School at Malvern College, working through private lessons and masterclasses with musicians from ensembles including the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra. "I really look forward to teaching students how to prepare for performances," Carrillo said. "I hope to teach my students how to prepare for their futures so that the unknown is familiar, manageable and accessible." For Carrillo, it's about more than technique. "The thing I hope to inspire most in my students is how music can open so many opportunities for them and allow them to see the world through what they learn in the music classroom," he said.