Rachel Maxwell
Rachel J. Maxwell, DMA, is an accomplished music educator, conductor, and clinician with over 33 years of experience teaching instrumental music. She currently serves as Director of Bands at Traughber Junior High School in Oswego, Illinois. Under her leadership, the Traughber band program has earned consistent recognition for performance excellence, with featured appearances at the Midwest Clinic, the University of Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival, and the Music for All affiliate Prairie State Middle School Festival—an event she founded and continues to manage.
Dr. Maxwell recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education at Boston University, where her research focused on pedagogical creativity, teacher identity, and ambiguity tolerance in ensemble instruction.
A passionate advocate for music education and equitable student access, she is a frequent guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician at festivals, workshops, and honor bands across the country, with recent appearances in California, Virginia, West Virginia, Alaska, and throughout the Midwest. Known for her student-centered approach and commitment to inclusive pedagogy, she supports a vibrant and engaging ensemble culture while mentoring the next generation of music educators.
Dr. Maxwell is an active commissioning collaborator, having led or participated in over 25 consortium projects with composers such as John Mackey, Julie Giroux, Omar Thomas, and JaRod Hall. She has served on the faculties of VanderCook College of Music and North Central College, where she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in instrumental methods, pedagogy, and conducting. Dr. Maxwell recently joined the faculty at Elmhurst University as an adjunct instructor.
She is a contributing author to publications including Update: Applications of Research in Music Education and the Illinois Music Educator Journal, and serves on the advisory editorial board for Teaching Music. She presents regularly at state and national conferences such as the Illinois Music Education Conference and the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic. Dr. Maxwell is a member of NAfME, the National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu.
