William McClellan

     William Braddan McClellan is the former Music Curriculum Supervisor for the Chicago Public Schools Office of Arts Education. He is currently the Director of the Academy of the Arts for the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of the Salvation Army located in Chicago, Illinois. He is a product of the Chicago Public Schools.

     He was a four year band member and music major under the tutelage of the late Dr. Edgar B. Gangware and graduated from the Northeastern Illinois College (now University) in December, 1970 with honors with a B.A. in Music Education); the first African-American student to graduate with a 4-year degree in music education from Northeastern. He also holds degrees from Vandercook College of Music (M.M.Ed. 1976) and Roosevelt University (M.A. Education Administration and Supervision - 1984).

     He was stationed at Marine Barracks-Washington, D.C. as a member of the world-renown United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps from 1972-1974.

     Mr. McClellan resumed his teaching career in 1974 as the band director at John Hope Middle School. He has served as the band dirctor at Fenger High School (1976-1981), Orchestral Director at Chicago Vocational High School (1981), Curie Metro High School (1982-1988), George W. Collins High School (1989-1993), Steinmetz Academic Center (1993-1995) and Kenwood Academy (1995-2003). During his 30 years as a high school band and orchestra director, the goups under his baton earned 22 Superior and 2 Excellent ratings at city and state contests.

     His administrative career began in 2003 when he was appointed as Assistant Principal at Kenwood Academy; a position that he held until June, 1005. He was then appointed the Instrumental Music Specialist for the Chicago Public Schools Bureau of Cultural Arts in June, 2005 and was appointed the Music Curriculum Supervisor for the CPS Office of Arts Education in November, 2006; serving in that capacity until his retirement on June 30, 2011.

     In 2000 he was inducted into the Wendell Phillips High School Hall of Fame as a music educator. He was the first recipient of the Outstanding Music Alumnus Award by the Music Department of Northeastern Illinois University in March, 2009.

     Mr. McClellan led the Curie High School Jazz Ensemble in concert at the 60th Annual Midwest International Clinic. He presented two clinics at the Midwest in 2006 and 2007.

     In 2007, he became the 5th Principal Conductor of the Chicago Public Schools All-City High School Concert Band and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2011. He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (1969), IMEA District 1 Chicago Band Chair (2005-2007), Chicago Bandmasters Association, and 6-time recipient of the “Who’s Who Among Americas’ Teachers” Award. He received the prestigious Theodore Charles Stone Award for excellence as a music educator from the Chicago Music Association and was awarded special recognition from the Illinois Grade School Music Association-South in 2011.

     William Braddan McClellan is a lifelong learner who still practices his trumpet daily. He is an accomplished adjudicator, clinician and performer in Illinois and Indiana. His love and passion for music and music education is unceasing and ongoing.