ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Mr. Ryan Budzinski

​Ryan Budzinski is the Director of Bands at Normal West High School.  He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2006 and is currently a graduate student at Illinois State University.  He has also studied at the VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL), the Ohio State University (Columbus, OH), Carleton College (Northfield, MN), and The Juilliard School (New York, NY).  Mr. Budzinski joined the Unit 5 band faculty in 2006.  He conducts the Normal West High School Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, and Concert Winds.  He is co-director of the Normal Marching Band, director of the Normal West Jazz Orchestra, and head of instrumental jazz studies at Normal West.  Additionally, he teaches AP Music Theory and serves as the Normal West High School Music Department Building Chair.  Mr. Budzinski was selected by the Normal West High School student body as the recipient of the Teacher Honor Roll Award in the spring of 2008.  Mr. Budzinski has served as an adjudicator at events hosted by the Illinois High School Association, the Illinois Music Education Association, the Illinois Elementary School Association, and the Illinois Grade School Music Association.  He recently completed a term as the Illinois Music Education Association District 3 Band Co-Representative, and he also served on the Music Advisory Committee for the Illinois High School Association.  Mr. Budzinski is a recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and as a leader of the Normal Marching Band staff, he is a recipient of the Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel Award of Excellence.