J.T. Teichert

Band Director

Fremd High School, Palatine, IL

J.T. Teichert is the Associate Director of Bands at Fremd High School. His responsibilities include leading Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Lab, and Jazz Combo while co-directing and assisting Viking Marching Band, Pep Bands, and all other ensembles. This is Mr. Teichert’s third year of certified teaching and his second year at Fremd High School.

Mr. Teichert started working with Wheeling High School in 2011, when he contributed to the Wildcat Marching Band as a Saxophone and Drum Line assistant. In 2013, he started directing Wheeling High School’s Jazz Band 2. Since then, his jazz ensembles and combos, at both Fremd and Wheeling, have earned honors and awards at the North Shore and Jazz in the Meadows Jazz Festivals. Most recently, the Fremd Jazz Combo has received honorable recognition at both festivals mentioned, including “Outstanding Soloist” awards and “First Place” status in the Jazz Combo category. Concert ensembles under the direction of Mr. Teichert have also been recognized, most recently receiving a “Superior Rating” at the Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival.

Mr. Teichert served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Wheeling High School for the 2015- 2016 school year. His responsibilities included leading Symphony Band and Jazz Band 2, while assisting with Wind Symphony, Jazz Band 1, Jazz Combo, and Marching Band. Mr. Teichert assisted the Wheeling High School Wind Symphony and Jazz Combo in performances at The Midwest Clinic, Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival, and The Music for All National Concert Band Festival.

Mr. Teichert graduated with a degree in Music Education from DePaul University, where he received instruction and performed alongside notable faculty including Susan Cook, Erica Neidlinger, Scott Burns, Mark Colby, Tom Matta, Dana Hall, Tim Coffman, Ron Perrillo, Bob Rummage and Dr. Bob Lark. In addition to studying saxophone privately with Susan Cook, Scott Burns, and Mark Colby, he studied jazz arranging with Tom Matta and jazz pedagogy with Dr. Bob Lark. During this time, Mr. Teichert was a member of several ensembles including: Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Chamber Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Wind Symphony.

Mr. Teichert has performed or collaborated with a variety of established musicians and groups including: Wayne Bergeron, Benny Golson, Randy Brecker, John Fedchock, Haley Reinhart, Bob Lark Alumni Band, Tom Matta Big Band, and Mark Colby Quartet. He can be heard as a soloist on Randy Brecker’s 2015 Jazzed Media Release, Dearborn Station. He has performed at notable venues including: Joe and Wayne Segal’s Jazz Showcase, Chicago Symphony Center, Phyllis’s Musical Inn, Lincoln Hall, Reggie’s Rock Club, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Umbria Jazz Festival. He also performs original music with his indie-rock group, JUST.

Mr. Teichert is a member of ILMEA, NBA, and NAfME. Outside of Wheeling High School, he teaches private lessons in saxophone and improvisation, and has served as a community music teacher in Chicago.