Community High School District 99 has announced the appointment of
Mr. DaJuan Brooks to the faculty of the Downers Grove South High School
Fine Arts Department. Mr. Brooks will begin in the 2018-19 academic year
teaching five courses: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz
Workshop. He will also assume the
role of Lead Director with the Marching Mustangs in June of 2018
Currently the Director of Orchestras at Niles West High School
(Niles, IL), Mr. Brooks holds a Masters of Music performance from Northwestern
University with a Music Education Certificate.
While at NU Mr. Brooks held the John P. Paynter Endowed Fellowship and a
graduate assistantship in the clarinet studio.
Mr. Brooks also holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree in clarinet
from the University of Arizona. Mr.
Brooks is a former conducting finalist for several military bands, including
the US Army Field Band and for the United States Air Force Band. Mr. Brooks has a strong affiliation with Drum
Corps International, serving as the Head Drum Major of The Blue Devils “B”,
winning an Open Class Championship in 2011 as well as the Jim Jones “Drum Major
of the Year” Leadership Award. Mr. Brooks
was also the DCI Individual and Ensemble Clarinet Champion in 2011 and 2012.
Mr. Brook’s appointment is the culmination of a search that drew
an international pool of 125 highly qualified applicants. Finalists for the
position were observed teaching District 99 music students, and also demonstrated
personal musical aptitude through a performance on their major instrument. “Our
process was both thorough and highly competitive.” said South High School Fine
Arts Chair Glenn Williams. “Mr. Brook’s
charisma, musicianship, passion for students and for the marching arts are
going to have a significant impact in the learning community at South High
School.”
Having watched Mr. Brooks conduct and teach during the search process,
DGS Band member and current junior Matt Seiden shared “He demonstrated so much
energy and passion for what he was doing and that's exactly what you want to find
in a teacher. I think without a doubt he would be very successful in District
99 because of his energetic and passionate personality. Junior Isaac Rutledge added “This candidate
was very expressive in his way of teaching as well as his way of communicating
with the band. He showed great ability to work and improve the whole wind
ensemble.”
