Bands, Jazz Band, Guitar, Music Theory, Music Production, Musical Pit Orchestra

847-986-3300 x5517

ktalukder@d127.org

Kamal Talukder is an Illinois native raised in Glenview, IL. He began playing trumpet in 5th grade because his friends joined band and he didn’t want to feel left out. While they quit after a year he stuck with it and eventually left home to study trumpet and music education at the University of Iowa. During his time there he marched in the Hawkeye Marching Band for three years where he traveled to three bowl games including the Rose Bowl Game. He performed with the University of Iowa Concert Band, Symphony Band, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Repertory Ensemble, Johnson County Landmark Band, and Trumpet Ensemble. He co-directed the New Horizons Band of Iowa City and multiple small music ensembles ranging from Mariachi to Klezmer music.

After graduating in Spring of 2020 with his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, Kamal moved to Sioux City, IA where he was the assistant then head director of bands at Sioux City North High School. During his tenure there Kamal directed three curricular concert band ensembles, two competitive jazz bands, competitive indoor drumline, and competitive marching band.

Two years later, Kamal was accepted and enrolled in the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign School of Music to pursue is Master of Music Education. He previously taught beginning band, intermediate band, Middle School Band, and Mariachi Band at Ellis Middle School, District U-46.

Kamal continues to perform trumpet professionally in multiple groups in the Chicagoland Area. He enjoys cooking while watching Hawkeye Sports, the Cubs and the Bears.

Choirs, Guitar, Musical Vocal Direction

847-986-3300 x

lshapin@d127.org

Ms. Liza Shapin is so excited to join the Grayslake music team! Previously, Ms. Shapin was the choir and piano teacher at Big Foot High School in Walworth, Wisconsin. She also directed and choreographed Big Foot’s musicals, and won a Jerry Theater Award for Outstanding Direction for their production of Beauty and the Beast. She is a graduate of UW Madison (Go Badgers!) where she participated in opera workshop, choir, Humorology, and many other campus organizations. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency online through the University of Iowa. Ms. Shapin is originally from Buffalo Grove, and spent her entire high school career devoted to show choir and dance team. 

Ms. Shapin enjoys both performing in and seeing musicals. Recently she played Sandra Bloom in Big Fish, and this summer you can see her waltzing in the Ensemble of Saint James Community Theater’s production of Cinderella. Some of Ms. Shapin’s favorite musicals she has seen include Chicago, West Side Story, Come From Away, and Ragtime. 

Outside of teaching, Ms. Shapin loves to travel. One of her favorite destinations is London, where she (accidentally) got to see the Queen of England. She spends her summers as the Camp Consultant for the Buffalo Grove Park District performing arts camps. She loves coffee, Disney, Marvel movies, and binge watching reality competition shows (Survivor, Big Brother, Amazing Race, etc.)!