St. Charles East High School Bands
Director Biographies
Jim
Kull has been Director of Bands at St. Charles East High School since 1994,
where he conducts a concert band, symphonic band, Wind Ensemble and the
Jazz Workshop. He also is on the faculty at Elgin Community College and
Judson College. He holds degrees from VanderCook College and the University
of Illinois. He also has done advanced coursework at Indiana University,
where he studied with Ray Cramer and David Baker. As a saxophonist Jim has
performed with Charlie Haden, Marian McPartland, The Manhattan Transfer
and he has been a member of The Arts Center Jazz Ensemble, a resident professional
ensemble at the College of DuPage for the last seven years. He is an active
clinician and guest conductor, and conducted the Illinois All-State Jazz
Band in 2002. email Mr. Kull
Michele
Suddith received her bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan
University and her Master of Music from Northern Illinois University. While
at Illinois Wesleyan and Northern Illinois she studied conducting with Steven
Eggleston and Stephen Squires. After completing her Masters of Music Michele
began teaching in St. Charles in 1993 as an elementary band director serving
Anderson, Fox Ridge, Lincoln and Munhall Schools. In 1995 she began teaching
at St. Charles High School in addition to her elementary responsibilities.
Currently, Michele teaches a section of Concert Band at St. Charles East
High School along with assisting with Marching Band and Pep Band, and works
at Anderson, Fox Ridge and Lincoln elementary schools teaching beginning
band. Michele is active as a horn player in the local Chicago area. In addition,
she maintains a private horn studio with students from St. Charles and Batavia
and frequently serves as a judge for different events including solo ensemble
contest and the IMEA All State Conference. email
Miss Suddith
Gil
Wukitsch is a graduate of St. Charles East High School (back in the day
when it was still St. Charles High School). He has a Bachelor's Degree in
Music Education from DePaul University where he played in the nationally
renowned Jazz Ensemble 1, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and the Screamin'
Demons Pep Band. He also has a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership
from Aurora University. Since 1993, Gil has served on the summer faculty
of the Birch Creek Music Academy in Door County, Wisconsin where he teaches
trumpet and combo and plays in the Faculty Academy Big Band. He has taught
at St. Charles East High School since 1997 and currently teaches two Symphonic
Bands, one Jazz Bands, two sections of AP Music Theory and directs the pit
orchestra for the drama department’s musicals. Gil is active around
the Chicago area as a clinician and trumpet player and has performed with
artists such as Clark Terry, Harold Jones and The Manhattan Transfer.
Gil’s interests include cooking, eating, playing golf, traveling
with his wife to various destinations to eat and play golf, and collecting
interesting stories about life in rural Iowa. He lives in St. Charles
with his wife Danielle (also a teacher) and their neurotic cat Uno. email
Mr. Wukitsch