Michael Pond-Jones, Director of Instrumental Music
Michael Pond-Jones, a Belleville, Illinois native, is the Director of Instrumental Music at Belleville Township High School West and Director of Jazz Studies at McKendree University. At Belleville West he directs Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensembles 3A and 3B, Jazz Band, the Marching Maroons, Basketball Band, and teaches MUS 101 and MUS 104, dual credit classes offered through the Department of Music at Southwestern Illinois College. Teaching assignments at McKendree include Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band Techniques, Improvisation, and Applied Trombone. From 2020 to 2026, Michael served as the Illinois Music Education Association District 6 President.
During his tenure at Belleville West, West bands have been selected to present at the 2019 Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria, Illinois, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 Parade, and received multiple first place designations at the Eastern Illinois University Jazz Festival. The Belleville West Bands regularly perform at high profile events for the Belleville Chamber of Commerce, St. Clair County Courthouse, City of Belleville, and United States Air Force.
His previous posts were Director of Bands at Richland County High School in Olney, Illinois, and ROWVA High School in Oneida, Illinois. He completed his graduate studies in Wind Band Conducting at Eastern Illinois University. At EIU, Michael regularly guest conducted the Wind Symphony and Concert Band as well as frequently rehearsed and led the Eastern Symphonic Band, Panther Marching Band, and Basketball Band. Michael is found working at multiple music camps over the summer.
A bass trombonist, Michael performs regularly and professionally in the Midwest, teaches privately, and frequently presents masterclasses and lectures. In 2014 Michael was an Honors Recital Performer at EIU. In 2011, Michael was the EIU Music Department Student of the Year. As a private instructor, Michael's students consistently earn superior ratings at contests and are selected for various levels of state recognition. Many former students have earned scholarships to universities across the country. Most importantly, his private students have chosen to continue studying, performing, and enjoying music after high school and university.
In addition to performing, teaching, and conducting, Michael earned credentials as a nationally-registered and state-licensed Emergency Medical Technician, American Heart Association BLS Instructor, and Illinois Fire Service Institute Basic Operations Firefighter and Office of the State Fire Marshal Instructor I. He serves as Lieutenant and Training Officer with the Villa Hills Fire Department, where he was selected as the 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023 Firefighter of the Year.
Scott Wilson, Associate Director of Instrumental Music
Originally from Homewood, Illinois, Scott Wilson’s education includes undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Collegiate music awards include the 1995 University of Illinois Wind Division Achievement Award and the 1996 University of Illinois Guy M. Duker Music Education Award. He also was a consultant for “The Complete Woodwind Instructor – A Guidebook for the Music Educator” by Deborah A. Sheldon and Robert Sheldon.
Previous teaching assignments include serving as Director of Instrumental Music from 1996-2000 in the East Peoria, Illinois Elementary School District. During this time, the instrumental music program doubled in size and created many additional musical opportunities for students.
Since 1996, Scott has been an active performer in the Peoria, Illinois band – The West MacQueen Street Band. In addition, he has been active as a musician within various St. Louis and Peoria area ensembles and churches. He currently is the Director of Contemporary Music at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville.
Since 2001, Mr. Wilson directed instrumental and vocal music ensembles at Belleville West High School. He was recognized by former students in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” for the 2005-2006 school year. His current teaching assignments include Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Instrumental Music, and Orchestra. It has been his pleasure to serve the students and the families in our community within the music department at Bellleville West High School.
Robin Bender, Colorguard Director
Andre Sonner, Percussion Director
Andre Sonner is a Zildjian and Vic Firth endorsed Performing Artist/Educator, serving as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at McKendree University. He is also Second Percussionist with the Sarasota Opera, Co-Principal Percussion of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, and Percussion Instructor at Boston College. Recent engagements include performances with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Springfield, Detroit, Boston Pro Arte, New Bedford and Traverse Symphony Orchestras. Additional performance highlights include the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, Interlochen Arts Academy Violin Institute, Chicago Jazz Festival, and performances at the Kennedy Center, in Washington DC. He holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, and Central Michigan University. Summer fellowships include the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen, and Chautauqua Music Festivals.
Marc Moss, Drill Writer & Designer
Marc Preston Moss began his years in the marching arts in Greentown, Indiana at Eastern High School. After graduating in 1988, he joined the Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps from Bloomington, Indiana and performed with them until he aged out in 1991, when Star won the coveted DCI World Championship. He was selected by the corps director to represent Star in the 1991 All-Star Drum & Bugle Corps, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Marc has since given back to the activity as a designer, instructor, clinician, and consultant for over 300 scholastic and independent indoor and outdoor competitive groups. His designs have won awards in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin state and regional competitions. He choreographed for the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps from 2004-2006, and served as the Program Coordinator in 2005.
“My role as an educator in the marching arts has always had less to do about the elements of this craft and more to do with a student’s approach to learning music, marching, dancing, spinning, drumming, etc. If the approach is pure, then the outcome will be successful, regardless of what is placed before the student.”
Michael Pond-Jones, a Belleville, Illinois native, is the Director of Instrumental Music at Belleville Township High School West and Director of Jazz Studies at McKendree University. At Belleville West he directs Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensembles 3A and 3B, Jazz Band, the Marching Maroons, Basketball Band, and teaches MUS 101 and MUS 104, dual credit classes offered through the Department of Music at Southwestern Illinois College. Teaching assignments at McKendree include Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band Techniques, Improvisation, and Applied Trombone. From 2020 to 2026, Michael served as the Illinois Music Education Association District 6 President.
During his tenure at Belleville West, West bands have been selected to present at the 2019 Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria, Illinois, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 Parade, and received multiple first place designations at the Eastern Illinois University Jazz Festival. The Belleville West Bands regularly perform at high profile events for the Belleville Chamber of Commerce, St. Clair County Courthouse, City of Belleville, and United States Air Force.
His previous posts were Director of Bands at Richland County High School in Olney, Illinois, and ROWVA High School in Oneida, Illinois. He completed his graduate studies in Wind Band Conducting at Eastern Illinois University. At EIU, Michael regularly guest conducted the Wind Symphony and Concert Band as well as frequently rehearsed and led the Eastern Symphonic Band, Panther Marching Band, and Basketball Band. Michael is found working at multiple music camps over the summer.
A bass trombonist, Michael performs regularly and professionally in the Midwest, teaches privately, and frequently presents masterclasses and lectures. In 2014 Michael was an Honors Recital Performer at EIU. In 2011, Michael was the EIU Music Department Student of the Year. As a private instructor, Michael's students consistently earn superior ratings at contests and are selected for various levels of state recognition. Many former students have earned scholarships to universities across the country. Most importantly, his private students have chosen to continue studying, performing, and enjoying music after high school and university.
In addition to performing, teaching, and conducting, Michael earned credentials as a nationally-registered and state-licensed Emergency Medical Technician, American Heart Association BLS Instructor, and Illinois Fire Service Institute Basic Operations Firefighter and Office of the State Fire Marshal Instructor I. He serves as Lieutenant and Training Officer with the Villa Hills Fire Department, where he was selected as the 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023 Firefighter of the Year.
Scott Wilson, Associate Director of Instrumental Music
Originally from Homewood, Illinois, Scott Wilson’s education includes undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Collegiate music awards include the 1995 University of Illinois Wind Division Achievement Award and the 1996 University of Illinois Guy M. Duker Music Education Award. He also was a consultant for “The Complete Woodwind Instructor – A Guidebook for the Music Educator” by Deborah A. Sheldon and Robert Sheldon.
Previous teaching assignments include serving as Director of Instrumental Music from 1996-2000 in the East Peoria, Illinois Elementary School District. During this time, the instrumental music program doubled in size and created many additional musical opportunities for students.
Since 1996, Scott has been an active performer in the Peoria, Illinois band – The West MacQueen Street Band. In addition, he has been active as a musician within various St. Louis and Peoria area ensembles and churches. He currently is the Director of Contemporary Music at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville.
Since 2001, Mr. Wilson directed instrumental and vocal music ensembles at Belleville West High School. He was recognized by former students in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” for the 2005-2006 school year. His current teaching assignments include Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Instrumental Music, and Orchestra. It has been his pleasure to serve the students and the families in our community within the music department at Bellleville West High School.
Robin Bender, Colorguard Director
Andre Sonner, Percussion Director
Andre Sonner is a Zildjian and Vic Firth endorsed Performing Artist/Educator, serving as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at McKendree University. He is also Second Percussionist with the Sarasota Opera, Co-Principal Percussion of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, and Percussion Instructor at Boston College. Recent engagements include performances with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Springfield, Detroit, Boston Pro Arte, New Bedford and Traverse Symphony Orchestras. Additional performance highlights include the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, Interlochen Arts Academy Violin Institute, Chicago Jazz Festival, and performances at the Kennedy Center, in Washington DC. He holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, and Central Michigan University. Summer fellowships include the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen, and Chautauqua Music Festivals.
Marc Moss, Drill Writer & Designer
Marc Preston Moss began his years in the marching arts in Greentown, Indiana at Eastern High School. After graduating in 1988, he joined the Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps from Bloomington, Indiana and performed with them until he aged out in 1991, when Star won the coveted DCI World Championship. He was selected by the corps director to represent Star in the 1991 All-Star Drum & Bugle Corps, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Marc has since given back to the activity as a designer, instructor, clinician, and consultant for over 300 scholastic and independent indoor and outdoor competitive groups. His designs have won awards in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin state and regional competitions. He choreographed for the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps from 2004-2006, and served as the Program Coordinator in 2005.
“My role as an educator in the marching arts has always had less to do about the elements of this craft and more to do with a student’s approach to learning music, marching, dancing, spinning, drumming, etc. If the approach is pure, then the outcome will be successful, regardless of what is placed before the student.”
