Wes Anderson

Wesley Anderson is a Conductor, Composer, and Educator. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music, with a degree in Film Scoring and Composition, and earned the Wachter Fellowship during his tenure at Berklee. 

Wesley serves as a Sergeant and Musical Performance Team Leader with the 144th Army Band, where he has led over 50 missions, revived the Big Band, and conducted and composed for major civic events, including the Illinois Polish Freedom Day Ceremony. His military education includes the Army School of Music, advanced individual training (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Basic Leaders Course (Commandant's list), and the Advanced Leaders Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate and Distinguished Leader for the class).  

As an active educator, he earned his master’s in teaching from Western Illinois University and, from 2022 to 2025, directed the award-winning music program at ROWVA High School. His accolades include earning Teacher of the Year for his District and the Illinois State Board of Education's Award of Meritorious Service. During his tenure, he doubled student participation every year, secured full program funding to make music free for all students, led ROWVA to its first IHSA top three finish, and founded the district’s first Tri-M Music Honor Society. 

Currently, he is a Graduate Assistant with the Illinois State Band Department.  An active bass player on over 100 film and video game projects and regularly performs as a jazz musician and as a member of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony. Wesley is also in demand as a conductor and clinician at Illinois music festivals and continues to compose for student ensembles across the region.