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Walter Payton College Prep


Math, Science, & World Language Academy

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Music Dept Bios


Jeffrey Weaver
[Department Chair, Chorus]

Jeffrey Weaver is the Music Department Chairman and Director of Choral Activities at Walter Payton College Prep High School in Chicago. He currently conducts the six choral organizations at Payton Prep. The Payton Concert Choir has received Division I, Superior ratings at each of the CPS High School Choral Contests that they have attended. The Sounds of Sweetness (Payton’s Men’s a cappella ensemble) has performed all over country and at countless events here in the city of Chicago.

Mr. Weaver earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and teaching certification from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. He has worked as a vocal/general music teacher and choral director for twenty-six years – twenty-one of those in the Chicago Public Schools. Harand Camp of the Theatre Arts was Mr. Weaver’s summer home for twenty-five seasons (1980-2004), during which time he has taught singing and musically directed shows.

Prior to his tenure at Walter Payton College Prep, he was the choral/general music teacher at the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Lincoln Park where he founded the Lincoln School Junior and Senior Choristers. He was also the founding director of the Chicago Area Studio Theatre (CAST) for Kids at the Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls.

Mr. Weaver is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and attends the National Conference on the Training of Children’s Voices every fall at The American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey. Over the past eight choral conferences he has studied under such famous choral conductors as Dr. Anton Armstrong (St. Olaf College), Dr. Andre Thomas (Florida State University), Kari Ala-Pollanen (Tapiola Choir, Finland), Dr. Doreen Rao (University of Toronto), Dr. Christian Ashley-Botha (Drakensberg South Africa Boys’ Choir), Fernando Malvar-Ruiz (The American Boychoir), Dr. James Litton (Former Director, The American Boychoir), Gerre Hancock (organist and choirmaster of St. Thomas Church, New York), Dr. Henry Leck (Indianapolis Children’s Choir), Dr. George Guest (formerly organist and choirmaster of St. John’s, Cambridge, England) and Ebbe Munk (The Royal Copenhagen Chapel Choir). Since Payton Prep’s opening, Mr. Weaver and the Payton Choral Department have hosted The American Boychoir, The Fort Bend Texas Boychoir, the CPS Elementary Choral Festival and the Heritage National Choral Festival.

In his spare time Mr. Weaver is the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 79, Chicago Area Council, sponsored by the Old Town Triangle Association. He is also the sponsor of Payton’s Running Club and an avid Cubs and Bears fan.

Email: weaverj@wpcp.org


Glenn Rode
[Band]

Mr. Rode is currently Director of Bands at Walter Payton College Prep High School and is also on the faculty of Moraine Valley College in Palos Hills. Mr. Rode received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL); his Master's from Northwestern University (Evanston). He has studied trombone with Frank Crisafulli (Chicago symphony Orchestra), Frank Hunt (Orchestra of the Lyric Opera), Bill Porter (WGN TV); and conducting with Roland Vamos, John Paynter and Frederick Ockwell.

Previous positions have included Director of bands at Lake Zurich High School (1979-83), District Orchestra Director of Cons. H.S. District 230 (1983-1989), Music instructor at Belding and Murphy elementary schools (1992-1994), and band Director at Mather High School (1994-2000).

Mr. Rode is active as a judge and clinician at various music contests and festivals and is a member of the National Band Association, the International Trombone Association and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

Email: rodeg@wpcp.org


TEACHER BIOS

Jeffrey Weaver
Glenn Rode

COURSES

Beginning Chorus
Intermediate Chorus
General Music
Advanced Chorus (Concert Choir)
Advanced Orchestra
Beginning Band
Advanced Band
Jazz Ensemble

WALTER PAYTON COLLEGE PREP | 1034 NORTH WELLS STREET | CHICAGO | IL | 60610 | TEL 773.534.0034 | FAX 773.534.0035