Craig Roselieb

Craig Roselieb, a 1979 graduate of Downers Grove South High School, completed his Bachelor of Music at Northern Illinois University in Music Education and Saxophone performance in 1984, where he was a 3-year member of the NIU Jazz Ensemble under Ron Modell, and was a winner in the 1983 Concerto Competition on Alto Saxophone as a student of Steve Duke.  He earned his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Northwestern University in 1988, where he directed the Symphonic Band and Concert Band under John P. Paynter, and directed Jazz Lab Band and played jazz tenor in the NU Jazz Ensemble with Don Owens.   Mr. Roselieb began his teaching career at Glenbrook North High School from 1984-87, continued teaching at Wheaton Central High School from 1988-90, and joined the District 99 music faculty in 1990. He was appointed Director of Bands at Downers Grove South High School in 1994, and retired in May, 2018 after a 33 year career.  His responsibilities at DGS included conducting the Wind Ensemble, Marching Mustangs, and Jazz Ensemble, as well as co-directing the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. 

Highlights from the Downers Grove South High School Jazz Ensemble during Mr. Roselieb’s tenure included the 2011 Essentially Ellington Contest in New York, the 2011 Midwest Band and Orchestra Festival in Chicago, 2012 ILMEA All-State Festival, the 2012 Chicago Jazz Festival, and the 2013 Swing Central Jazz Festival in Savannah, GA.   The Downers Grove South High School Marching Mustangs have performed in the 2005 London New Year’s Day Parade, the 2014 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, and the 2017 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida.  In addition to awards in numerous local marching band field show contests, they have been Illinois State Finalists in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016. The Downers Grove South High School Wind Ensemble has been a University of Illinois Superstate Finalist in 1997, 2001, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016.  In 2013, they performed in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall as winners of the National Concert Band and Orchestra Festival, and in 2015, they performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall.  

Students enrolled in band, jazz band and orchestra programs in District 99 enjoy an ongoing music exchange program with the Musikschule in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany that began in 1985.  They travel abroad every two years to Germany, and with Mr. Roselieb have also visited Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, and France.  Mr. Roselieb has served as the ILMEA District 1 President from 2000 - 2006, the ILMEA Jazz Division President from 2013 - 2020, and currently service as the IMEC Equipment Manager.   He maintains memberships in NAfME, JEN, ASBDA and has been awarded the “Citation of Excellence” from the National Band Association five times. In 2010, he was awarded the Chicago-land Outstanding Band Director Award, sponsored by Quinlan and Fabish, and in 2013, he received the Mr. Holland's Opus Award, sponsored by Bob Rogers Travel.  In February, 2018 he was selected for membership in the Midwest Music Festival Hall of Fame, and in January 2025 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Music Education Association. 

Post retirement, Mr. Roselieb continues to teach private saxophone lessons, and two after school jazz bands at Oswego High School with Kevin Schoenbach.  At Downers Grove South High School, he continues to direct the annual musical pit orchestra.  He is also registered as a long term substitute teacher in DuPage and Kendall counties.  Performing regularly on all saxophones with the Pete Ellman Big Band, the Brass Tracks Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Consortium, and the Vern Spevak Big Band,  in 2022 he composed eight new original works for big band, and two vocal arrangements that have been recently recorded by the Pete Ellman Big Band, Live at “The Venue,” in Aurora.   He has also recently completed two concert band commission projects.  This music is now available for purchase on his website, www.rosiemusic.om