Faculty & Staff

Rachel J. Maxwell is an accomplished music educator, conductor, and clinician with over 33 years of teaching experience. She currently serves as Director of Bands at Traughber Junior High School in Oswego, Illinois, and as an adjunct instructor at Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, Illinois. Under her leadership, the Traughber bands have earned consistent recognition for their performance excellence, with featured appearances at the Midwest Clinic, the University of Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival, and the Music for All affiliate Prairie State Middle School Festival — an event she founded and continues to manage.

Rachel’s commitment to music education extends beyond her work in the public schools. She is a frequent guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician at honor bands, festivals, and workshops throughout the Midwest and across the country, with recent appearances in California, Virginia, West Virginia, and Illinois. Known for her emphasis on inclusive pedagogy, student engagement, and fostering a lifelong love of music, she is especially passionate about supporting the next generation of music educators, often mentoring student teachers and early-career directors.

An active commissioning collaborator, Rachel has led or participated in over 30 consortium projects with composers such as John Mackey, Julie Giroux, Omar Thomas, and JaRod Hall. Her commitment to advancing the wind band repertoire complements her dedication to providing students with meaningful and high-quality ensemble experiences.

In addition to her work at public schools, Rachel has served on the adjunct faculty of VanderCook College of Music and North Central College, where she has worked directly with undergraduate and graduate students in instrumental pedagogy, rehearsal techniques, and applied conducting. She is a sought-after presenter at state, regional, and national conferences — including The Midwest Clinic, the Illinois Music Education Conference, and events in over a dozen states — and an active contributor to professional organizations such as NAfME, the National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Her professional writing includes published articles in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education and contributions to the Illinois Music Educator Journal and the MakeMusic Blog.

Rachel earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education from Boston University in 2025. Her research interests include ensemble pedagogy, ambiguity tolerance in teaching, metaphorical thinking in music learning, and the professional identity development of music educators. She also holds graduate degrees in music education and educational leadership and is a proud alumna of Illinois State University and the University of Illinois.

As an advocate for student access and equity in music education, Rachel deeply believes in the power of daily, high-quality instrumental instruction to positively impact students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. She remains dedicated to creating opportunities for students of all backgrounds to experience meaningful success in band.