Mr. Hockensmith is excited to begin his first year as Pilgrim’s band teacher during the 2021/22 school year! He is a Chicago-based band director, music teacher and percussionist. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Western Illinois University in 2015.
Over the past six years, Mr. Hockensmith has taught band at the beginning, middle, and high school levels in various school districts. One of his most recent teaching positions was 5th grade beginning band in Mount Prospect. He also taught and rehearsed both 5th grade bands at Fairview and Lions Park elementary schools, and coordinated three concerts throughout the school year with the middle school band director at Lincoln Middle school in the same district.
Mr. Hockensmith’s other previous experience includes serving as the Assistant Band Director at Fremd High School where he taught freshman band, percussion methods, and music theory, alongside marching band percussion for both Fremd and Waukegan high schools.
As a percussionist, Mr. Hockensmith is currently the principal timpanist for Lakeview Orchestra.