1201

35th Street
Rock Island, Illinois 61201 David T. Grayson (847) 987-9444
GraysonDT@gmail.com

To Whom It May Concern,

Please accept my application for the Band Director position at your school. I would love the opportunity to
continue and grow the band program at your school. My resume is attached.

My name is David Grayson and I am in my fifth year, eighth total of teaching, as the Director of Bands at Sherrard
Jr. Sr. High School in Sherrard, Illinois, directing the competitive high school and jr. high band program. In just five
years under my direction, the Sherrard Band Program has grown immensely in size and playing ability, receiving
several program-best awards and distinctions. I transitioned the Sherrard Marching Tigers into a competitive
marching band that has won multiple marching band competitions around the State of Illinois. The Sherrard High
School Jazz Ensemble was selected and performed at the 2020 ILMEA All-State Illinois Music Education Conference
in Peoria, IL and placed 2nd in its class at the prestigious Jazz in the Meadows Competition. The Sherrard Symphonic
Band now performs collegiate-level music at contests and concerts around the state. I was a clinician at the 2020
ILMEA Illinois Music Education Conference presenting a performance clinic.

Beyond competitions, I started a Band Student Leadership Staff and established the first-ever Sherrard Jazz
Showcase, now in its 4th year, featuring 11 high school and college jazz bands from Illinois and Iowa. The Jazz
Program has grown from one jazz band of 14 students to two jazz bands with a total of 50 students involved in jazz.
I have been able to rejuvenate the band program in Sherrard by doing such things as designing and purchasing new
marching band uniforms, purchasing a new 24’ band trailer, arranging a 100+ song pep band book, incorporating
technology and professional clinicians into the program, and bringing new professional-quality instruments into the
students’ hands. I also started a Music Theory and Percussion Ensemble class to fit our growing numbers. Please see
the band website I created for more info, www.SherrardBands.weebly.com.

My primary instrument is the tuba; however, I can play all brass, woodwind and percussion instruments,
including piano, bass and guitar, having played most in ensembles at the University of Illinois. I have substantial
music arranging and drill writing experience. I currently arrange the music and write the drill for competitive high
school marching bands’ field shows, as well as having arranged music and wrote drill for the University of Illinois
Marching Illini and Basketball Bands. My music arrangements and drill have won and placed at many high school
and college marching competitions.

I will graduate this summer with my Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign and currently have a 4.0 GPA. I received a full tuition waiver assistantship through the Illinois Summer
Youth Music camp. I have a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
While there, I played in the highest-level band and was a sousaphone section leader in the Marching Illini and
Basketball Band. Prior to my position at Sherrard, I was the Director of Bands & Choirs at Streator Township High
School where I also received program-historic awards, improved the quality of student performance, music,
instruments and band facilities, and established the Wind Ensemble (new top band) at Streator. Prior to Streator, I
taught 4-6 grade band at the Millburn School District #24 and started the Guitar Club. I student taught at Evanston
Township High School and Wilmette Jr. High School and I graduated from Highland Park High School.

I set high expectations for my students, reward them with positive feedback, and work hard to give them new
experiences, a diverse and inclusive classroom and a great music education. I keep the band room open extended
hours to create a home for band students, to help them socially, academically and musically. There is not a morning,
class period, lunch, or time after school, when students are not congregating in the band room, practicing and
bonding as a band family. I know I can help continue to expand and create excellence at your school. I am very excited
about the possibility of becoming the Band Director at your school and hope to have the opportunity to interview for
the position. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,



David Grayson