Kevin Schoenbach

Kevin Schoenbach, Associate Director of Bands                
Phone: 630.636.2050
Email: [email protected]

Mr. Schoenbach is Associate Director Bands at OHS. He co-directs the six levels of curricular concert band, the three levels of jazz ensemble, and the Panther Marching Band. He earned his Master’s of Music Education degree from VanderCook School of Music in 2010, and his Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Education and Music Performance at Northern Illinois University in 2000. While at NIU, he performed in the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Marching Band, JazzVox, Jazz Combo, Trombone Ensemble, and the much heralded NIU Jazz Ensemble, with which he played with Wynton Marsalis, Slide Hampton, and Jimmy Heath amongst other jazz luminaries. Other collegiate performing highlights include winning the Denver Harmony Sweepstakes and singing the national anthem at several Bears games with his vocal quintet, Octane.
After NIU, Mr. Schoenbach spent two years in Lockport as the Taft Grade School Director of Music, handling band, choir, and general music classes. From there it was on to Timothy Christian School in Elmhurst, where he spent six years as the Director of Bands in a 5-12 program, taking his high school group to Disneyworld twice and to San Antonio/Austin.
While at Oswego High School, his ensembles have consistently been awarded Superior ratings at contests and festivals throughout the U.S. This includes directing groups at the 2024, 2020 and 2013 ILMEA All State Festival, Grand Champions of the Mundelein JazzFest, Grand Grand Champion of the 2020 NorthShore Jazz Festival, 1st place at the 2020 Rolling Meadows Jazz festival, four Downbeat awards for Outstanding High School Jazz Ensemble, being selected to Superstate the last nine festivals, and the National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis 4 times. Ensembles under his direction have performed in New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Williamsburg, Washington D.C., Cedar Point, and Orlando, winning Grad Champions at the 2019 Music City Music Festival and the 2012 Orlandofest.
Mr. Schoenbach has a very active performing life outside of school. He currently plays lead trombone in the Vern Spevak Big Band, the Ring of Music, Swing Assembly, and the Paul Windsor Orchestra. He is a Contributing Editor and writes for the Instrumentalist Magazine, concentrating on jazz pedagogy. He was a finalist for the 2024 Grammy Music Educator of the year, and a quarterfinalist three other times. In 2015, he was named "Outstanding Music Educator" by Quinlan and Fabish Music Company.
Mr. Schoenbach is married to his wife Kristin, a psychologist for the Dupage County court system. He has two daughters named Greta and Genevieve, an American bulldog named Tex, and is a loyal Cubs season ticket holder.