Illinois Bands Staff

Joy McClaugherty serves the Illinois band program as communications specialist, event coordinator, and office manager. Joining the Illinois Bands staff in 2015, Ms. McClaugherty handles the logistics for the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival, the Illinois Band Conductors Symposium, and other Illinois band events. She also oversees the editing, layout, and production of all performance and event programs and marketing materials, and assists with the Illinois Bands website and content development. Prior to joining the University of Illinois, McClaugherty served as area manager of the meetings and exhibits department of the American Oil Chemists Society. She also has a strong background in marketing and communications, having worked as an associate creative director, director of creative services, and senior copywriter for FCB Healthcare West, Penta Corporation, and Campbell Mithun advertising agencies, respectively.

Aaron Kavelman is a percussion educator, clinician, performer and composer who grew up listening and performing jazz alongside his father, an accomplished jazz pianist. Growing up in a musical family, Aaron watched his four older sisters in the high school band program. Inspired by the local marching bands, Aaron would tape a set of bongos onto a chair and choreograph drill in the backyard, thus the beginning for his love with the marching arts.

With twenty-two years’ experience teaching private lessons and twenty years teaching drumlines throughout Illinois, Aaron brings a wealth of experience and passion to whomever he teaches. Regardless if it is on a competitive field or in support of athletics, he demands top effort from each group. Aaron also has numerous compositional and arranging credits throughout the Midwest from a variety of percussion programs.

Aaron has a bachelor of music and a master of music in percussion performance from Illinois State University where he studied with Dr. Tom Marko, director of jazz, and served as the teaching assistant to Dr. David Collier, head of percussion. Aaron is currently working on his doctor of musical arts in jazz performance with professor Joel Spencer, along with a cognate in North Indian classical music under Dr. Christopher Macklin at the University of Illinois. He currently serves as the drumline instructor for the Marching Illini and continues an active writing, playing and independent clinician schedule.

Graduate Conducting Assistants

Michelle Bell is a doctoral candidate in wind band conducting and serves as a graduate teaching assistant with the University of Illinois Bands. Michelle earned her master of music in wind band conducting from the University of Minnesota where she studied with Dr. Emily Threinen. While at UMN, she assisted with the Marching Band, University Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble.

In 2018, Michelle was appointed Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Emory & Henry College in Emory, VA where she assisted with the Marching Band and Concert Band, and directed the Pep Band and various chamber woodwind ensembles. She also taught courses in theory, conducting, instrumental methods, and woodwind methods. Prior to her time at E&H, Michelle taught at St. Cloud State University, where she directed the Sports Band.

Michelle graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2011, earning her bachelor of music education degree as well as a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard. Since then, she has served in the Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota Army National Guards. Currently, she holds the rank of Captain and recently returned from a deployment as a Company Commander in support of the Southwest Border Mission, where she led a company of over 100 Soldiers.

Alex Mondragon, a doctoral candidate in instrumental conducting at the University of Illinois, grew up in the Denver metro area in Colorado and earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Alex served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, taught beginning band at various Boulder elementary schools, and assisted with several Boulder middle school bands. In addition to teaching in the public schools, Alex maintained a private studio of trombone and euphonium students ranging from grades 5-12.

Alex earned his Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from The Ohio State University where he served as a Graduate Teaching Associate and assisted in all facets of the band program. While at Ohio State, Alex served as a guest conductor with all bands and worked extensively with The Ohio State University Marching Band. He wrote drill for both the Athletic Band and the Marching Band that was performed as part of both pregame and halftime.

Alex’s primary conducting teachers include Dr. Russel Mikkelson, Dr. Donald McKinney, Dr. Matthew Roeder, and Dr. Matthew Dockendorf. He studied euphonium with J. Michael Dunn. Alex’s professional affiliations include the Colorado Bandmaster’s Association, the Colorado Music Educator’s Association, and the National Band Association.

Rebecca Mulligan is currently a graduate student and teaching assistant at the University of Illinois pursuing a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting with Dr. Kevin Geraldi. Rebecca received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2018.

Prior to moving to Illinois, Rebecca served in the United States Army as a Bandsman. After joining the Army in 2019, she served as a clarinetist, librarian, and conductor in the 3rd Infantry Division based out of coastal Georgia. During her time with the 3ID, she performed in the Concert Band, Drill Band, and Woodwind Quintet. She also performed two tours with the United States Army Field Band, performing concerts throughout the Southwestern United States, and in New York City. She now serves with the 208th Army Reserve Band based out of Concord, NC. Rebecca has played, and guest conducted, the Piedmont Wind Symphony, the Savannah Wind Symphony, and the Wingate Wind Ensemble.

Athletic Bands Graduate Teaching Assistants