Jordan Cain, Director of Bands
Jordan Cain became Homestead’s Director of Bands in 2023. He previously served as head band director at Snider High School in Fort Wayne and as a band and orchestra director in California. In 2024, he will begin his seventh year as a band director.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Mr. Cain’s introduction to music training began with piano lessons at the Yamaha Music School at age four. He continued with private piano lessons for several years. Mr. Cain began playing the trombone in junior high school and fell in love with the instrument. He studied privately in 8th grade and continued throughout high school. His intensive trombone study allowed him to perform in high-level ensembles, including the All-Southern California High School Wind Ensemble and the National Association for Music Education’s All National Symphonic Band in Washington, DC. He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy while in high school.
Mr. Cain earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and minor in Wind Conducting from the acclaimed Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He was a four-year member of Indiana University’s Marching Hundred and a baritone section leader for three years.
Mr. Cain’s background includes studying:
* Tenor trombone with M. Dee Stewart of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
* Bass trombone with Denson Paul Pollard of the Metropolitan Opera.
* Tenor trombone with William McElheney of the Vienna Philharmonic (while studying in Vienna, Austria - where he attended Philharmonic performances and recitals, and Vienna State Opera performances).
* Conducting under Dr. Mallory Thompson (Director of Bands - Northwestern University) and Rodney Dorsey (Director of Bands - Indiana University).
Mr. Cain teaches the Spartan Alliance Band, concert band, orchestra and assists band students daily at both Summit Middle School and Woodside Middle School.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Mr. Cain’s introduction to music training began with piano lessons at the Yamaha Music School at age four. He continued with private piano lessons for several years. Mr. Cain began playing the trombone in junior high school and fell in love with the instrument. He studied privately in 8th grade and continued throughout high school. His intensive trombone study allowed him to perform in high-level ensembles, including the All-Southern California High School Wind Ensemble and the National Association for Music Education’s All National Symphonic Band in Washington, DC. He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy while in high school.
Mr. Cain earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and minor in Wind Conducting from the acclaimed Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He was a four-year member of Indiana University’s Marching Hundred and a baritone section leader for three years.
Mr. Cain’s background includes studying:
* Tenor trombone with M. Dee Stewart of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
* Bass trombone with Denson Paul Pollard of the Metropolitan Opera.
* Tenor trombone with William McElheney of the Vienna Philharmonic (while studying in Vienna, Austria - where he attended Philharmonic performances and recitals, and Vienna State Opera performances).
* Conducting under Dr. Mallory Thompson (Director of Bands - Northwestern University) and Rodney Dorsey (Director of Bands - Indiana University).
Mr. Cain teaches the Spartan Alliance Band, concert band, orchestra and assists band students daily at both Summit Middle School and Woodside Middle School.
Jason Witzigreuter, Associate Director of Bands
Jason Witzigreuter is in his 25th year in education and third year as Associate Director of Bands at Homestead High School. He previously served as Director of Bands at East Noble High School, Northrop High School, Pacelli Catholic High School in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Angola Middle School (where he was also the high school’s assistant director). He began his career as an assistant band and choir director at East Side Middle School in Anderson, Indiana.
From 2012-2016, Mr. Witzigreuter served as a building principal at Adams Central High School. He held the same role at Northrop High School from 2016-2018. He returned to music education, what he calls his “true passion”, at East Noble before joining Homestead. He teaches Homestead’s Symphonic Band, Jazz Band 1, Pep Band, and the Spartan Alliance Marching Band. He assists with the Freshman Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and daily at both Summit Middle School and Woodside Middle School.
Mr. Witzigreuter’s concert, jazz, and marching bands have received consistent high ratings and honors at state and national competitions. His jazz bands have been recognized multiple times with top honors at jazz festivals, including a performance as a Featured Ensemble at the 2012 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference.
Mr. Witzigreuter’s background includes studying saxophone with Dr. James Ator, at Indiana Purdue University in Fort Wayne and with Dr. George Wolfe at Ball State University. He performed in the Ball State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Joseph Scagnoli and the Ball State University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Larry McWilliams. He currently performs with the Fort Wayne Area Community Band.
Mr. Witzigreuter earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Ball State University in 1998 and completed his master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2011, with principal licensure in 2012. His professional affiliations include: NAfME, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Jazz Educators Network, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
In his spare time, Mr. Witzigreuter enjoys spending time with his wife, Dani, their son Cameron, and their daughter, Samantha
From 2012-2016, Mr. Witzigreuter served as a building principal at Adams Central High School. He held the same role at Northrop High School from 2016-2018. He returned to music education, what he calls his “true passion”, at East Noble before joining Homestead. He teaches Homestead’s Symphonic Band, Jazz Band 1, Pep Band, and the Spartan Alliance Marching Band. He assists with the Freshman Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and daily at both Summit Middle School and Woodside Middle School.
Mr. Witzigreuter’s concert, jazz, and marching bands have received consistent high ratings and honors at state and national competitions. His jazz bands have been recognized multiple times with top honors at jazz festivals, including a performance as a Featured Ensemble at the 2012 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference.
Mr. Witzigreuter’s background includes studying saxophone with Dr. James Ator, at Indiana Purdue University in Fort Wayne and with Dr. George Wolfe at Ball State University. He performed in the Ball State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Joseph Scagnoli and the Ball State University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Larry McWilliams. He currently performs with the Fort Wayne Area Community Band.
Mr. Witzigreuter earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Ball State University in 1998 and completed his master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2011, with principal licensure in 2012. His professional affiliations include: NAfME, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Jazz Educators Network, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
In his spare time, Mr. Witzigreuter enjoys spending time with his wife, Dani, their son Cameron, and their daughter, Samantha
Alec Shilling, Assistant Director of Bands & Co-Director Orchestra
Alec Shilling became Homestead Assistant Director of Bands & Co-Director of the Orchestra in 2023. He teaches Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz 2, Jazz 3, Percussion class, Music Theory, and Guitar.
He attended Ball State University, receiving a bachelor's degree in music education. During his time at Ball State, he performed for four years with the Ball State Wind Ensemble, three years with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, and four years with the trumpet ensemble. During this time, he studied trumpet with Dr. Stephen Campbell, while studying conducting with Doug Droste and Dr. Thomas Caneva.
Mr. Shilling fell in love with music during his time as a student at Hagerstown Jr.-Sr. High School, where he was not only an active member of the band but performed in multiple honor bands as well as the Richmond Jazz Orchestra. During this time, he performed as a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps during both the 2018 and 2020 seasons.
Mr. Shilling has taught marching band at several schools throughout Indiana, working as both a music and visual technician from 2019-2023. During this time, he served on staff with the Spartan Alliance Marching Band and the Homestead Indoor Percussion for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
He attended Ball State University, receiving a bachelor's degree in music education. During his time at Ball State, he performed for four years with the Ball State Wind Ensemble, three years with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, and four years with the trumpet ensemble. During this time, he studied trumpet with Dr. Stephen Campbell, while studying conducting with Doug Droste and Dr. Thomas Caneva.
Mr. Shilling fell in love with music during his time as a student at Hagerstown Jr.-Sr. High School, where he was not only an active member of the band but performed in multiple honor bands as well as the Richmond Jazz Orchestra. During this time, he performed as a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps during both the 2018 and 2020 seasons.
Mr. Shilling has taught marching band at several schools throughout Indiana, working as both a music and visual technician from 2019-2023. During this time, he served on staff with the Spartan Alliance Marching Band and the Homestead Indoor Percussion for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
