About Mr. Roberts
Joel S. Roberts is currently Director of Bands at Franklin Park Middle School in Salem, IL, a position he has held since 2008. He is responsible for all band students in grades 4-8, including Concert Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Cadet Band, and Beginning Band. He also teaches one grade level of General Music. Under his direction, the FPMS Concert Band has consistently received superior ratings at district and state festivals. Joel is an active member of the Illinois Music Educators Association, Illinois Grade School Music Association and MENC.
A native of Metropolis, IL, Joel graduated from Murray State University in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. At MSU he participated in the Racer Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and Combo, Saxophone Quartet and was a featured soloist with the Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble he performed in New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. He has studied saxophone under his father Ron Roberts, and MSU professor of saxophone, Mr. Scott Erickson; jazz under Dr. Eric Swisher and Mr. Todd Hill and conducting under Mr. Dennis Johnson and Mr. John Fannin. He is an alumni member of the Gamma Delta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity in which he held the offices of Warden, Music Director and President. He was also actively involved in Campus Lights, serving on the tech crew, in the pit orchestra, as the House Manager and the Chair of the Board of Producers.
Joel has performed with the Paducah Concert Band, Paducah Jazz Ensemble, and pit orchestras at the Market House Theater and Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center. He has shared the stage with the likes of Bob Newhart, Terry Mike Jeffery, Marie Osmond, Chris Vadala, Dale Underwood and Jamey Abersold.
Joel is an active performer with King City Swing, a jazz/swing band based in Mt. Vernon, IL in which he plays tenor saxophone. They can be seen playing all around Southern Illinois. He also plays saxophone with the Murr-Vegas All Stars, a rhythm and blues band based in Murray, KY. They can be seen playing all around Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois and Northwest Tennessee.
He currently resides in Salem, IL with his wife Lee Ann, daughter Hallee and their dogs, Nolan and Lil’ Bit.
Not want to be here?