Jordan Cain, Director of Bands
Mr. Cain was born and raised in Orange County, California. Music was introduced to him at an early stage in my life. He started taking piano lessons at the Yamaha Music School when he was 4 years old and continued to take private lessons for a number of years. Mr. Cain started playing the trombone in junior high school and fell in love with the instrument. He began studying privately in the 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 NAFME (National Association for Music Education) All National Symphonic Band in Washington, DC. After his junior year of high school, he was accepted to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy for the summer.
He received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Minor in Wind Conducting from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he was a 4 year member of the Marching Hundred at IU and was the baritone section leader for 3 years. He studied tenor trombone with M. Dee Stewart of the Philadelphia Orchestra and bass trombone with Denson Paul Pollard of the Metropolitan Opera. While studying abroad for a semester in Vienna, Austria, he studied tenor trombone with William McElheney of the Vienna Philharmonic. In Vienna, he was fully immersed in the world of classical music and attended Vienna Philharmonic performances and recitals as well as Vienna State Opera performances. Through a workshop at the University of Oregon, Mr. Cain had the opportunity to study conducting with Dr. Mallory Thompson (Director of Bands - Northwestern University) and Rodney Dorsey (Director of Bands - Indiana University).
He has five years of teaching experience and he is entering his 6th year as a band director when he joined at Homestead High School in 2023. He was a band and orchestra director for two years in California before moving to Fort Wayne and was a director at Snider High School for three years, with the last 2 years as the head band director before joining the Spartan Alliance.
He received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Minor in Wind Conducting from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he was a 4 year member of the Marching Hundred at IU and was the baritone section leader for 3 years. He studied tenor trombone with M. Dee Stewart of the Philadelphia Orchestra and bass trombone with Denson Paul Pollard of the Metropolitan Opera. While studying abroad for a semester in Vienna, Austria, he studied tenor trombone with William McElheney of the Vienna Philharmonic. In Vienna, he was fully immersed in the world of classical music and attended Vienna Philharmonic performances and recitals as well as Vienna State Opera performances. Through a workshop at the University of Oregon, Mr. Cain had the opportunity to study conducting with Dr. Mallory Thompson (Director of Bands - Northwestern University) and Rodney Dorsey (Director of Bands - Indiana University).
He has five years of teaching experience and he is entering his 6th year as a band director when he joined at Homestead High School in 2023. He was a band and orchestra director for two years in California before moving to Fort Wayne and was a director at Snider High School for three years, with the last 2 years as the head band director before joining the Spartan Alliance.
Jason Witzigreuter, Associate Director of Bands
Jason Witzigreuter is currently in his twenty-fourth year in education and second year as Associate Director of Bands at Homestead High School. Before coming to Homestead, Mr. Witzigreuter was Director of Bands at East Noble High School, Northrop High School, Angola Middle School/assistant high school director, and Pacelli Catholic High School in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Mr. Witzigreuter started his career at East Side Middle School in Anderson, Indiana as an assistant band and choir director. From 2012-2016 Mr. Witzigreuter served as a building principal at Adams Central High School and in the same role from 2016-2018 at Northrop High School. He found during his time in administration that his true passion is working directly with children teaching music which led him to East Noble and then finally to Homestead High School. At Homestead, Mr. Witzigreuter teaches the Symphonic Band, Jazz Band 1, assists with both the Freshman Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, and the Spartan Alliance Marching Band, as well as assists at both Summit and Woodside Middle Schools daily.
Mr. Witzigreuter’s concert, jazz, and marching bands have all received consistent high ratings and honors at state and national festivals. Mr. Witzigreuter’s jazz bands have been recognized multiple times as a top honor band at jazz festivals, including a performance as a Featured Ensemble at the 2012 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference.
Mr. Witzigreuter studied saxophone with Dr. James Ator at Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne and Dr. George Wolfe at Ball State University. He also had the privilege of performing in the Ball State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Joseph Scagnoli and the Ball State University Lab Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Larry McWilliams. In his spare time as a saxophonist, Mr. Witzigreuter has performed with the Fort Wayne Area Community Band.
Mr. Witzigreuter received 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 principal licensure in 2012. Mr. Witzigreuter’s professional affiliations include NAfME, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Jazz Educators Network, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He enjoys spending as much time as possible with his lovely wife Dani, their son Cameron, a trumpet player in the Homestead Band program, and daughter Samantha who attends Summit Middle School and involved in the choir program.
Mr. Witzigreuter’s concert, jazz, and marching bands have all received consistent high ratings and honors at state and national festivals. Mr. Witzigreuter’s jazz bands have been recognized multiple times as a top honor band at jazz festivals, including a performance as a Featured Ensemble at the 2012 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference.
Mr. Witzigreuter studied saxophone with Dr. James Ator at Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne and Dr. George Wolfe at Ball State University. He also had the privilege of performing in the Ball State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Joseph Scagnoli and the Ball State University Lab Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Larry McWilliams. In his spare time as a saxophonist, Mr. Witzigreuter has performed with the Fort Wayne Area Community Band.
Mr. Witzigreuter received 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 principal licensure in 2012. Mr. Witzigreuter’s professional affiliations include NAfME, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Jazz Educators Network, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He enjoys spending as much time as possible with his lovely wife Dani, their son Cameron, a trumpet player in the Homestead Band program, and daughter Samantha who attends Summit Middle School and involved in the choir program.