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Schools

North's Music Men Also Share a History

Friends through grade school, middle school, high school and college, Band Director Bill Miller and Choir Director Frank Piekarz continue to make beautiful music at DGN.

He finds more charm than oddity in the routes their lives have simultaneously taken. "It's strange, but a wonderful kind of strange," said Dr. Frank Piekarz. 

The extraordinary story is that of two local boys who started out together in kindergarten, attended the same schools, pursued the same career paths and ultimately came full circle by returning as professionals to their original district. 

Piekarz, who is the choir director at Downers Grove North High School, and Bill Miller, band director at North, began their passion for music and love of teaching as natives of Darien. They both attended the former Fairview Elementary School in Darien, followed by Eisenhower Junior High School and Downers Grove South High School.

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"It's a good history," said Piekarz.

Brayer Teague, chairman of the fine arts department at Downers Grove North, said he takes great pleasure in introducing the two and their unique history together, at the beginning of each school year. 

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"It's really improbable that this would happen," he said.

Miller said that the "pinnacle" of their childhood friendship came in third grade.  After that, he drifted to band while Piekarz favored choral music.

"From then on our friendship would grow apart and then come back together based on the activities we were involved in," said Miller.

While attending DGS, they maintained their musical preferences while Piekarz also pursued what Miller called "fancy shmancy math classes." 

"I was definitely the more bookish guy," Piekarz said. 

"Yes, it shows," replied Miller.

At times, the two would combine their talents to make music.

"I have a great memory of a talent or homecoming show," Piekarz said. "We had an a cappella quartet that we put together. We found Billy Joel tunes, some doo-wop really fun stuff."

Following high school, Miller and Piekarz decided independently to attend the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.  Miller knew only that he wanted to pursue some music-related field.

"I thought maybe music engineering," he said. "I wasn't considering being a teacher when I was in high school. It just wasn't on my radar. I had a passion for music. But my love of teaching started at U of I. I found myself listening to teachers and saying to myself, 'I have strong feelings about that.' I was bitten by the bug. I found that I really wanted to teach others about this."

Piekarz knew early that he wanted to teach, but he was torn between music and math. Passionate about music, he realized there likely would be more stability in teaching math so he compromised by taking a double major. Miller and Piekarz ended up in some of the same education classes.

"There was probably a moment there that we thought this was really weird," Piekarz said.

Miller said he never dared to aspire to return to District 99 as a professional.

"So many of your professors in college tell you not to expect to get jobs in the suburbs," he recalled. They were told the jobs would more likely be found in the "middle of nowhere," where teachers would be in charge of all music in the high schools and middle schools.

"We are blessed to have the opportunity to come back home," Miller said. He started in District 99 in 1995; Piekarz in 1996.

Piekarz said it's not surprising the two were happy to return to the area as professionals.

"People like to stay in this community," he said.  "In general, society is more mobile and people scatter all over the place, but there's a truth that people like to stay in this community. We're examples of that."

In coming full circle, the two have in turn inspired other students to follow in their musical footsteps. MacKenzie Martin of Downers Grove was active in District 99's music program and after graduating  from college this past year, accepted a music teaching position in District 58.

Downers Grove North senior Nolan Schillerstrom said both teachers have impacted his life and been tremendous role models.

"I'm thinking about studying science and music as a double major," he said. "They've inspired me. I started learning jazz with Mr. Miller and now I want to keep it in my life. He's so passionate about it.

"Mr. Miller showed it to me first," he said.  "Dr. P. is so insightful. ... He tries to get us thinking about stuff, too."

Having started and continued their careers together, Piekarz and Miller hope to retire together, albeit in the very distant future.

"Neither Bill nor I have any intention of leaving this community," Piekarz said. "Things are very healthy and vibrant here."

"If Frank retires the year before I do it would be really weird," Miller said. "I'm going to do the math so I can screw it up."

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