Band
Matthew Gabriel – QHS Concert and Band Director, QJHS Band Director
Matt Gabriel has been an instrumental music educator in the Quincy Public School District since 2010. He is the director of the Quincy Senior High School Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, Brass Choir, and Jazz Ensembles. In addition to his high school responsibilities, he serves as the director of the Quincy Junior High School Varsity Band and teaches beginning instrumentalist. Matt graduated from Quincy Senior High School in 2003. He received his Bachelors in Music Education from Illinois State University in 2008. Prior to teaching in Quincy, Matt was the Director of Bands at Somonauk High School and student taught in the Chicago suburbs of Naperville and Wheaton. In 2015, Matt was named a WGEM Golden Apple Award Winner. In 2017, Matt received his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Western Illinois University. As a trombonist, Matt performs with the Big River Swing Machine, Bullis Rutter Big Band, and the Quincy Park Band. He has been a featured soloist with the Illinois State University Jazz Band I and has performed with Bobby Shew, Benny Golson, Dennis DiBlasio, Bob Havens, Byran Stripling, and Adam Larson. When Matt is not teaching or attending a music event, he enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife, Allison, and his two sons Mason and Jack.
Debbie Johnson – QHS Symphonic Band Director, Asst QHS Band Director, QJHS Band Director
Debbie Johnson is a native of Liberty, Illinois. She holds degrees in Music Education Education Administration from Quincy University. She is currently in her 26th year of teaching. Following undergraduate school, she began her teaching career as the Director of Bands at Hamilton High School from 1995-1997. In 1997 she began teaching in the Quincy Public Schools where she has taught band, chorus and general music. Currently she is a band director at Quincy Junior High School and Quincy Senior High School. In addition, she teaches a junior high jazz band and is the sponsor of the QHS Colorguard. Debbie is the coordinator for the Joe Bonansinga Summer Music Institute in Quincy. Debbie has served as the District One Chairperson for the Illinois Grade School Music Association and hosted many IGSMA organization and solo-ensemble contests. She also served as the Illinois Music Education Association District 4 Professional Development Representative for 14 years. Most recently she completed a tenure as the ILMEA District 4 President and served on the State Board. She resides in Quincy with her husband, Doug and is the proud mom of two kids. Jordan is a sophomore at the University of Iowa and Courtney is a junior at Quincy Senior High School.
Regan Baxter – QJHS/QHS Instrumental Teacher
I’m originally from Metamora, Il near Peoria. I graduated with an associate’s degree in music from Illinois Central College before transferring to Illinois State University to complete my bachelor’s in music education. While at ISU, my primary instrument was string bass, and I played flute in the Big Red Marching Machine and oboe in the University Band. I also played string bass for the ISU Symphonic Winds, Wind Symphony, and Jazz Band, as well as bass guitar for Pep Band.I enjoy spending time with my cats, Flynn and Minerva, hiking with my Irish wolfhound named Neassa, playing Dungeons and Dragons with my husband and our small group of friends, crocheting, and geeking out about all things related to the comic book universe and sci-fi/fantasy genre.
Orchestra
Bethany Otte – QHS Orchestra Director, QJHS Asst Orchestra Director
Bethany Otte is a second-generation music educator and grew up in a home that valued music as part of life. At six years old, Bethany began to play the violin and continued to play through college. She earned her B.S. in Music Education with an Emphasis in String Pedagogy from Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, WI. Bethany spent several years as a private teacher before transitioning to teaching orchestra full time. She loves the personal interaction she gets with each of her students and taking advantage of the opportunities that are available for her students to excel as musicians and citizens. Outside of the classroom, Bethany is involved in her church, and also loves spending time and exploring new places with her husband and family.
Chad Ensinger – QJHS Orchestra Director, QHS Assistant Orchestra Director
Mr. Ensigner earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music at Wheaton College and a Master’s Degree in Music Education at Western Illinois University. He started my teaching career in 2007 at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School in Chicago Illinois and moved to Quincy to begin teaching in the Quincy Public Schools in 2011. He has a family of six including my wife, Stephanie, and four kids, Ethan (senior) Abigail (sophomore), Isaac (6th grade), and Isaiah (2nd grade). Chad enjoys playing Viola in the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Muddy River Opera, Quincy Community Theater, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and a Quincy Symphony associated String Quartet.
Choir
Paul Shelor – QHS Choir Director, QJHS Assistant Choir Director
Paul Shelor graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music with a Masters in Choral Conducting. He has been teaching choir in Quincy since 1992. In addition, he serves as the chorus master for the Muddy River Opera Company and the Quincy Area Youth Chorus. With his lovely wife Mary of 32 years they have two grown children, Christopher and Bryson. In his free time, Paul enjoys biking, camping, hiking and playing table tennis
Megan Losch – QJHS 6-8 Choir Director, QHS Asst Director
My name is Megan Losch and I am thrilled to be teaching at Quincy Junior High School! I am from Palatine, Illinois and studied music education at Illinois Wesleyan University. While I was at Illinois Wesleyan I kept myself busy by performing in Illinois Wesleyan’s pep band playing mellophone, singing in a local church choir and singing alto in the University Choir and Collegiate Choir. During my time singing with Collegiate Choir we had the opportunity to perform in choral festivals in Canada, Poland and South Africa. I was a member of “Touch of Class” female a cappella group, an improv troupe, and Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraternity. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, cross stitching and baking!