Musical Staff

Conductor: Ron Keller

Ron was born and raised in Naperville, Illinois (actual birthplace is 616 North Ellsworth Street). He is a fourth generation Keller in a city that has grown from 4200 people, in 1940, to over 145,000 in 2006!

He began playing tuba in the Ellsworth School band at age eight. He was awarded the John Philip Sousa Award at Naperville Community High School, and was student director his senior year. Upon graduation he entered Northern Illinois University, majoring in music. Ron received the outstanding senior musician award at NIU and was student director of the pep band.

Ron has been involved with the Naperville Municipal Band since 1951, when he appeared as a soloist. Ron became director in 1966 following the untimely death of Elmer Koerner, his teacher. Since that time he has poured his energy into developing the band into one of the premiere adult organizations in the country. In 1991 the band received the prestigious Sudler Silver Scroll Award presented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

Ron is a member of the Windjammers Unlimited, the American School Band Directors Association, The Association of Concert Bands (life member), Masonic Lodge, and Burlington Route Historical Society. He was also treasurer of Sister Cities Commision. Ron has been in the field of education for over 45 years. Prior to his retirement, in June 1993, he was K-12 Coordinator of Music for School District 203 and Director of Bands at Jefferson Junior High School. He has served on the Board of Directors of Windjammers Unlimited, elected President in 2007, and is a past President of the Association of Concert Bands.

In his spare time (when there is any) Ron loves to garden, fish and work on his model train layout. He is married with five children and seven grandchildren. Mr. Keller began portraying John Philip Sousa in 1989, when the Naperville Municipal Band played a typical "Sousa Style" concert called "Sousa Lives!" at the Paramount Arts Center in Aurora, IL. Since then he has revived the role each year, on or near Mr. Sousa's birthday.

Assistant Conductor: Rene Rosas

Mr. Rosas is a Real Estate Banker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, on 75th Street in Naperville. As the Assistant Conductor Rene works with Director Ron Keller in the areas of program planning, band rehearsals and performances, and an acting liason between the band and community. In addition to his duties with the NMB, he conducts the Clarinet Choir and the Flute Choir from the band.

Rene earned his B.M.E. from University of Texas at El Paso and taught in the Texas public school system. His first teaching jobs were at Collins Elementary School, in El Paso, and Terrace Junior High School. From there he went to Andress High School, where the band was winner of the Texas Sweepstakes Award for six consecutive years, the marching band won the New Mexico State Tournament of Bands four consecutive years, and the jazz ensemble performed from Florida to California, and points between.

In 1992 Rene earned a Master of Science in Music Education from University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He was also a Teaching Assisteant for the university bands. From 1995-98 he was the director of the University of Florida "Fightin' Gator Marching BAnd", and from 2000-02 he directed the Illinois State University "Big Red Marching Machine". A change in career brought him to Naperville, but music continues to play an integral part of his life.