Elias Gillespie's headshot

Elias Gillespie

Assistant Lecturer, Director of Bands
elias.gillespie@siu.edu
618-453-5041
Altgeld 118
Music
Elias Gillespie is a conductor and artist-educator. He maintains an active schedule as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter. His work has been presented at state, national, and international conferences, including the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference, the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop, and the Cultural Diversity in Music Education International Conference.

Prior to his collegiate work, Gillespie served as Director of Bands and Orchestras and Music Department Chair at Lincoln Northeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. There, he conducted concert bands, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and marching band while overseeing a comprehensive music program. In recognition of his contributions to music education, he was named the 2022 Nebraska Music Educators Association Young Music Educator of the Year.

During his graduate studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, Gillespie frequently guest conducted the University's Wind Symphony, the premier wind band at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Campus Band, and studio ensembles. His graduate work has included undergraduate conducting instruction; work with the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and Buff Band, including drill design and arranging; service as Assistant Director of the University of Colorado Boulder Summer Music Academy and community arts collaborations.

Gillespie is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting and Literature at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studies with Dr. Shanti Simon. He holds a Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studied with Dr. Donald McKinney and Dr. Matthew Dockendorf, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Kansas State University.