Matthew D. Johnson
matthew.johnson@hsd153.org
(708) 799-5544 ext. 2381
Matthew D. Johnson is currently enjoying his eleventh year of teaching and fifth in District 153 where he directs the James Hart Symphonic Band and both jazz bands, assists with the 6th grade Concert Band, and also serves as director of the Homewood-Flossmoor Community Band. Prior to returning to Illinois, Mr. Johnson taught for six years in several communities across northern Ohio, most recently serving as band director and music department coordinator for the Nordonia Hills City School District in Northfield/Macedonia, OH (2013-16). Ensembles under his direction have consistently received Superior (I) and Excellent (II) ratings at district, state, and national adjudicated events, most notably:
A native of Champaign, IL, he holds a BME from the University of Illinois and an MA from The Ohio State University, with additional studies at VanderCook College of Music. Primary mentors of his include: Dr. Peter Griffin (Elmhurst College), Dan Harrison (Thompson Junior HS, Oswego, IL), Barry Houser (University of Illinois), Dr. Daryl Kinney (The Ohio State University), Dr. Scott A. Jones (The Ohio State University), Dr. Joseph Manfredo (retired, formerly Illinois State University and University of Illinois), Debra Richtmeyer (University of Illinois), Mary Schrembeck, and Tom Weaver (both in the Nordonia Hills City SD). As a saxophonist he has performed several times across the Chicagoland area with his wife Kathleen Guarna: as a saxophone duo, with the West Suburban Symphony Orchestra, and as part of the Dominion Saxophone Quartet.
(708) 799-5544 ext. 2381
Matthew D. Johnson is currently enjoying his eleventh year of teaching and fifth in District 153 where he directs the James Hart Symphonic Band and both jazz bands, assists with the 6th grade Concert Band, and also serves as director of the Homewood-Flossmoor Community Band. Prior to returning to Illinois, Mr. Johnson taught for six years in several communities across northern Ohio, most recently serving as band director and music department coordinator for the Nordonia Hills City School District in Northfield/Macedonia, OH (2013-16). Ensembles under his direction have consistently received Superior (I) and Excellent (II) ratings at district, state, and national adjudicated events, most notably:
- The James Hart Symphonic Band: Division I ratings at its District Organization Contest each year (2017-2020), 2017 Superior rating in its first-ever appearance at the IGSMA State Festival, 2018 Division I rating at the State of Illinois Concert Band Clinic
- The James Hart Gold Jazz Band: 2019 Division I rating at the Mundelein Invitational
- The Nordonia HS Concert Band: in 2016 earned its first Superior rating at its District Large Group AE in 27 years
- The Nordonia MS 7th and 8th Grade Bands: Superior ratings at its District Large Group AE each year (2014-2016)
- The Nordonia HS Marching Band: Superior ratings at State Finals each year (2013-2015), 2015 Superior rating at the Bands of America St. Louis Super-Regional (first such rating at a BOA event in school history), 2 grand championships and 3 runner-up grand championships at OMEA Local Events
A native of Champaign, IL, he holds a BME from the University of Illinois and an MA from The Ohio State University, with additional studies at VanderCook College of Music. Primary mentors of his include: Dr. Peter Griffin (Elmhurst College), Dan Harrison (Thompson Junior HS, Oswego, IL), Barry Houser (University of Illinois), Dr. Daryl Kinney (The Ohio State University), Dr. Scott A. Jones (The Ohio State University), Dr. Joseph Manfredo (retired, formerly Illinois State University and University of Illinois), Debra Richtmeyer (University of Illinois), Mary Schrembeck, and Tom Weaver (both in the Nordonia Hills City SD). As a saxophonist he has performed several times across the Chicagoland area with his wife Kathleen Guarna: as a saxophone duo, with the West Suburban Symphony Orchestra, and as part of the Dominion Saxophone Quartet.
Heather Archer Hoefle
heather.hoefle@hsd153.org
(708) 799-5544 ext. 2381
Heather Archer Hoefle is currently enjoying her first year as a band director in Homewood School District 153, where she directs the Churchill Elementary 5th Grade Beginning Band and co-teaches the Concert and Symphonic Bands at James Hart Junior High School. Prior to her appointment in Homewood, Mrs. Hoefle successfully taught public and private school band students of all grade levels, most recently having served in Flossmoor School District 161 for 13 years. Over the past decade she has added composing to her repertoire of musical abilities, and over the past four years has had 2 pieces published by Kjos Music Company, and 10 compositions published by RWS Music Company, with several new works on the way in 2020. Mrs. Hoefle is active as a clinician and speaker regarding the composition process and has received several commissions from middle and high schools across the midwest, perhaps most most notably the work Solar Winds for Concert Band: a multimedia visual and aural experience created in collaboration with the Homewood-Flossmoor HS music and art departments for a special 2018 concert honoring local astrophysicist Dr. Eugene Parker (for whom the Parker Solar Probe was named).
Mrs. Hoefle is a graduate of Indiana University, from whence she holds degrees in Flute Performance and Audio Technology. She earned her educational certification from DePaul University, and an MM from VanderCook College of Music. A native of Indianapolis, she studied flute with Philip Sample and Rebecca Price of the Indianapolis Symphony, and while at Indiana University she was a student of renowned flute soloist Carol Wincenc. She has worked as a freelance flutist in the Chicagoland area, including sixteen years in the Tudor Winds Woodwind Quintet, an ensemble for which she is a founding member.
(708) 799-5544 ext. 2381
Heather Archer Hoefle is currently enjoying her first year as a band director in Homewood School District 153, where she directs the Churchill Elementary 5th Grade Beginning Band and co-teaches the Concert and Symphonic Bands at James Hart Junior High School. Prior to her appointment in Homewood, Mrs. Hoefle successfully taught public and private school band students of all grade levels, most recently having served in Flossmoor School District 161 for 13 years. Over the past decade she has added composing to her repertoire of musical abilities, and over the past four years has had 2 pieces published by Kjos Music Company, and 10 compositions published by RWS Music Company, with several new works on the way in 2020. Mrs. Hoefle is active as a clinician and speaker regarding the composition process and has received several commissions from middle and high schools across the midwest, perhaps most most notably the work Solar Winds for Concert Band: a multimedia visual and aural experience created in collaboration with the Homewood-Flossmoor HS music and art departments for a special 2018 concert honoring local astrophysicist Dr. Eugene Parker (for whom the Parker Solar Probe was named).
Mrs. Hoefle is a graduate of Indiana University, from whence she holds degrees in Flute Performance and Audio Technology. She earned her educational certification from DePaul University, and an MM from VanderCook College of Music. A native of Indianapolis, she studied flute with Philip Sample and Rebecca Price of the Indianapolis Symphony, and while at Indiana University she was a student of renowned flute soloist Carol Wincenc. She has worked as a freelance flutist in the Chicagoland area, including sixteen years in the Tudor Winds Woodwind Quintet, an ensemble for which she is a founding member.
