Dr. Joseph Lill, a professional trumpet player, conducts the Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band and supervises the instrumental music education program. “For an incoming music major, the advantage of a smaller school is that you get all the opportunities. You get to be in an orchestra if you’re good enough to make our orchestra. Concert band, jazz ensemble—you have places to perform, places to be involved,” he says.

An active performer in a variety of genres including jazz, classical, and popular, Lill has led his own band, Six of One, since 1979. He has performed with orchestras including Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the New Philharmonic, and the Elgin Symphony, and with a variety of area big bands.

Along with the North Park Chamber Players, he appeared multiple times on WFMT’s “Live from Studio One.” He also appeared as lead trumpet on the CD “Too Darn Hot” by Jeff Hedberg & C11. And, he was featured as trumpet soloist with the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra in the world premiere of Daniel Golden’s “Light and Shadow.”. A lifelong Chicagoan, he is frequently called on as a guest soloist, clinician, and adjudicator.