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 the Associate Director of Bands and the Director of Jazz Ensemble 1 at Homestead High School. Jason is serving in his 28th year in education and sixth year at Homestead High School. He previously served as Director of Bands at East Noble High School in Kendallville, Indiana, Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Angola Middle School in Angola, Indiana, where he was also the Assistant Band Director at Angola High School, and Pacelli Catholic High School in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Jason began his career as an assistant band and choir director at East Side Middle School in Anderson, Indiana. From 2012-2016, Jason served as a building principal at Adams Central High School in Monroe, Indiana. He held the same position at Northrop High School from 2016-2019. In 2019, Jason returned to music education, what he calls his “true passion.” Jason teaches Homestead’s Freshman Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble 1, and the Spartan Alliance Marching Band. He assists with the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and at both Summit Middle School and Woodside Middle School where he works with the directors daily with all 6th-8th grade band students. Jason’s concert, jazz, and marching bands have received consistent superior ratings and top honors at state and national competitions. His jazz bands have been recognized as top honor bands at jazz festivals, including performances as a featured ensemble at the 2012 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference with Northrop High School Jazz Ensemble 1, the 2022 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference with Homestead High School Jazz Ensemble 1, and The 79th Midwest Clinic - International Band and Orchestra Conference in 2025 with Homestead High School Jazz Ensemble 1. Jason was selected as a winner of the 2025 Quinlan and Fabish Michiana Outstanding Music Educator Award. Jason 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, and his principal licensure in 2012. His professional affiliations include: Phi Beta Mu - International Bandmasters Fraternity, National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Indiana Bandmasters Association (IBA), ISSMA (state jazz committee member), Indiana Jazz Educators Association (IJEA) (state board member), Jazz Educators Network (JEN), National Band Association (NBA), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Jason loves spending time with his wife, Dani, their son Cameron, and their daughter Samantha and together they look forward to their yearly summer vacations on a warm beach in Florida.
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.
