West Aurora Band Faculty & Staff
Mr. Victor Anderson
Band Director
A native of Aurora, Illinois and product of school district 129, Greg Hensel earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Illinois State University where he played trumpet in the madrigal brass quintet, Big Red Marching Machine, Jazz Ensembles, and Wind Symphony. After graduating from Illinois State University in the Spring of 2012, he was brought on as one of the band directors at Downers Grove South High School in Downers Grove, Illinois. The bands at Downers Grove South enjoyed continued success all-around in the band program. The competitive Marching Mustangs placed in the top 3 regularly in competition, jazz bands were recognized annually at local and out of state jazz festivals, and the wind bands were selected multiple times to perform at the Illinois Super State Festival. During his time at Downers Grove South, Mr. Hensel earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from the American College of Education in 2016.
After 10 years in Downers Grove, Mr. Hensel found his way home to West Aurora High School where he has enjoyed reuniting with former teachers and the Aurora Community. Mr. Hensel currently works with the Freshman Bands, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Blackhawk Marching Band, Jazz Bands, and Digital Music Production courses. Mr. Hensel is an active private lesson teacher in the Aurora area and serves on the executive board of the Aurora American Legion Band, a group he has been a member since 2003.
Mr. Greg Hensel
Band Director
Mr. Sierakowski is Associate Director of Bands at West Aurora High School. He currently teaches the Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Stage & Freshman Jazz Band, works with all the athletic bands, the Madrigal Brass Quintet coach, Music in America and is the Digital Music Production Studio instructor. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois State University and a Master of Music from Northern Illinois University.
As a public school band director, Mr. Sierakowski has taught at the middle school and high school levels in Illinois. His professional affiliations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the National Association for Music Education. Mr. Sierakowski finds comfort in Illinois with his wife and three sons.
Mr. John Sierakowski
Band Director
Mr. Kissel has been the percussion instructor at West Aurora Schools since 1996. An active instructor and clinician in the Fox Valley area. He is also a professional performing and recording artist.
Mr. Jeff Kissel
Percussion Instructor
Morgan Smith has served as the Field and Visual Coordinator of the Blackhawk Marching Band since 2014. In addition to the work she does with the BMB, Mrs. Smith is also a band director at Washington Middle School where she teaches the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands. Mrs. Smith is a graduate of West Aurora High School where she was heavily involved in the band program and served as Drum Major of the Blackhawk Marching Band. After graduating from WAHS, Mrs. Smith studied Music Education at the University of Illinois and was a member of the Marching Illini. As a four year member of the Marching Illini, Mrs. Smith served as Squad Leader, Section Leader, and Drum Major. Mrs. Smith was on the instructional staff at Smith Walbridge Clinics where she taught hundreds of drum majors from all over the country. As an alumna of the Blackhawk Band, Mrs. Smith is honored to have the opportunity to work with a band that gave so much to her!
Mrs. Morgan Smith
Field and Visual Coordinator
Coach Z brings 20+ years of experience to the Blackhawk Marching Band. Johnni Zabka, also known by students as Coach Z, started out as a state championship baton twirler from Pennsylvania. She was the feature twirler at Eastern Illinois University and graduated from there with a bachelor’s degree in education.
Coach Z started a successful baton twirling group at the St. Charles Park District and in 1996 went on to become the head coach for the St. Charles East Color Guard. As the coach of the STCE color guard, she built the team up from one team to two teams. In the fall, the teams performed at football games and during school assemblies. In the winter, they competed with the Illinois Drill Team Association (IDTA). The STCE Color Guard won the IDTA State Championship in various categories from 2002 to 2010 under her leadership. Coach Z also worked hard to become a voice and to promote color guard categories within IDTA. She became a representative on the IDTA board and helped establish the category of Lyrical Flag as a competitive division. Coach Z also created clinics and camps for other schools to attend so they could learn more about IDTA, increase flag skills, and understand the scoring system. She retired from year-round coaching in 2010 and was inducted into the 2010 IDTA Hall of Fame.
Coach Z continued to choreograph for other teams but took a step back from year-round coaching to spend more time with her family. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Blackhawk Marching Band because of a call from Mr. Sierakowski. The Blackhawk Marching Band was looking for a color guard instructor. Coach Z was excited to learn more about the band and joined the staff. She loves being able to work with a dedicated marching band that prides itself on excellence and the promotion of school spirit. She finds working with the color guard members a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
As a resident of North Aurora, Victor Anderson is thrilled at the opportunity to teach in the SD129 community. Mr. Anderson and his family, Alison (wife), Emilia (16), Michael (12), and Benjamin (11) are excited to be a part of the great tradition of West Aurora Bands and so happy to be a part of the wonderful community of music educators and supportive music community that West Aurora - SD129 offers.
Victor Anderson most recently served as Music Division Chair for Yorkville CUSD 115 and Instrumental Music Teacher at Yorkville High School. Previous positions include Jacobs High School (Algonquin, Illinois), Galesburg School District 205 (Galesburg, Illinois), and CUSD 201 (Aledo, Illinois).
Under Anderson's direction, the Yorkville High School Music Department has expanded their offerings from six curricular ensembles serving 200 students to 13 curricular performing ensembles, three general music courses, and AP Music Theory; involving more than 600 students daily. The community of Yorkville is a seven-time recipient of the NAMM Best Communities for Music Education Award. The Yorkville Bands program is the 2023-2024 North Central Division Winner of the National Band Association Blue Ribbon Program of Excellence Award.
Under Anderson's direction, the Yorkville High School Wind Ensemble has performed at The University of Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival six times, earning the “Honor Band'' distinction in 2012 and 2014. In 2013, the ensemble had their debut performance at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. In 2016 and in 2022, the ensemble was featured as a “Showcase Band” at the annual Western Illinois University Showcase of Bands Festival. In 2022, the ensemble performed a collaborative concert at Mead-Witter Foundation Concert Hall with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wind Ensemble. The ensemble performed a concert at the 2017 and 2023 Illinois Music Educators Conference. The Yorkville High School Wind Ensemble has worked regularly with world-renowned performers, clinicians, conductors, and composers.
Mr. Anderson received a Bachelors of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Masters of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and completed administrative certification through Aurora University. In the 2015 December edition of School Band & Orchestra Magazine, Mr. Anderson was named the Illinois recipient of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference”. Mr. Anderson is a 2016 recipient of the Quinlan & Fabish Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award, a 2017 & 2018 Music Educator Grammy Award nominee, has been recognized as a Y115 Most Influential Educator numerous times, and in 2022 was recognized by the Yorkville Education Foundation as Educator of the Year. In 2021, Mr. Anderson was inducted into the prestigious ASBDA (American School Band Directors Association). As a trombonist, Mr. Anderson performs regularly with The Vern Spevak Big Band. Mr. Anderson conducts the Yorkville Community Band, Yorkville Big Band, Fox Valley Brass Band.