2011 International Southern Wind Ensemble
John Heath, Music Director

John Heath received his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Music Education and Bachelors Degree in Tuba performance from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where he has completed course work on a doctorate in Music Education.  Mr. Heath has been the director of the Batavia High School Band, Batavia, Illinois for eighteen years.   Along with these duties in Batavia, he is also the director of the Aurora (Illinois) Summer Concert Band.  Prior to his position in Batavia, he was the high school band director in Highland, Illinois for twelve years. 

Mr. Heath has received numerous honors including:  2004 Kane County, Illinois Regional Superintendents Award for Teaching Excellence, Illinois State Board of Education “Those Who Excel” Teaching Award, Candidate Illinois Teacher of the Year, six time recipient of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Conductor IMEA District Band Festivals throughout the State of Illinois, the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award sponsored by the Quinlan and Fabish Music Company, and Guest Conductor at Illinois Summer Youth Music Camp.  He is a two-time recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence.  Mr. Heath is currently serving the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) as President. He also serves on the National Advisory Board for the University of Illinois School of Music.  This past summer, Mr. Heath completed his twelfth year conducting bands at Blue Lake.  2010 will be his third year with the International Program.