Olathe Civic Band

Olathe Civic Band Board of Directors

Jena McElwain

Assistant Director

Jena is in her ninth year of teaching in the Olathe School District. She was the Director of Bands at Santa Fe Trail Jr. High for four years before opening Olathe’s newest and 8th Jr. High in 2004, Prairie Trail. She currently has 3 performing concert bands and two jazz big bands collectively, comprising the largest band enrollment in the city of Olathe. Prior to that, Jena was the Director of Bands for the Riley County School District where she taught grades 5-12 instrumental and vocal music.

Jena received her Bachelor of Music degree from Kansas State University. While at Kansas State, she served as the Executive Assistant for the KSU Jazz Festival for four years and helped promote The Basie Way education program. Jena had the privilege to work with such artists as Jon Faddis, Kevin Mahogany, Carmen Bradford, New York Voices, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. She also performed with The Count Basie Orchestra while in attendance at Kansas State University.

During Mrs. McElwain’s time at Santa Fe, the bands received numerous I ratings at Worlds of Fun and Pittsburg Jazz Festival competitions. Prairie Trail is off to the same great start as all of the competing bands have received I ratings so far. All Prairie Trail Jazz Bands have received I ratings at every competition and festival they have performed in since the school’s opening in 2004. Also, nearly 30% of the Prairie Trail student body is currently enrolled in the band program. Jena has also been named in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who of American Teachers and was the nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year from Prairie Trail for 2005-2006 and Master Teacher of the Year nominee for 2007-2008.

Jena has held the position of Assistant Director of the Civic Band since 2001. She shares conducting duties as well as plays baritone and bass guitar in the Civic Band. She is married to Rob, who is also a member of the Civic Band, and has 2 sons, Bryce and Brady, and a daughter, Jacey.

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