Faculty
Matthew P. Bufis - Director of Bands, Lead Teacher for Fine Arts
Email: bufism@eths202.org
Phone: (847) 424-7853
Matthew P. Bufis joined the music faculty at Evanston Township High School in June of 2012 and was later named Director of Bands in June of 2016. Mr. Bufis leads the Wildkit Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Symphony, teaches Guitar classes, and is an instrumental sponsor for the YAMO pit orchestra – the musical accompaniment to a student written and directed theatre production at ETHS. Under his direction, the ETHS Wind Symphony has risen to new levels of distinction, with multiple invite performances at the University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival (Class 4A Honor Band in 2019), a 2018 Illinois Music Educators Conference performance, and a 2019 performance as a featured band at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. The Wildkit Marching Band also continues an upward trajectory, with a seventy percent enrollment growth rate and steady progress in placements at competitions over the last twelve seasons. Mr. Bufis is actively involved in activities that enhance learning at ETHS, having served on the Disciplinary Literacy, Teacher Evaluation, School Day (scheduling), Insurance, Principal's Advisory, and ETHS Foundation committees, and currently serves as an elected member of the ETHS Teachers Council Executive Board (union). He also maintains the role of Lead Teacher for Music through which he organizes events, maintains the department facility and equipment, plans professional development opportunities, and facilitates the music honors program.
Prior to his appointment at ETHS, Mr. Bufis completed two successful tenures at Westmont High School in Illinois and Great Mills High School in Maryland, where he is responsible for leading both programs to distinction. Ensembles under his direction performed at the Maryland State High School Band Festival and the Illinois Superstate Band Festival many times. Mr. Bufis is responsible for pioneering artist-in-residency programs at each of his former posts, collaborating with guest performers and conductors – most notably Ronald Romm (The Canadian Brass), Thomas Jöstlein (St. Louis Symphony), and composer Eric Ewazen (Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra – wind ensemble transcription premiere 2006). The Great Mills Wind Ensemble also performed annually at the Maryland Day ceremony in historic St. Mary’s City, including a performance attended by then Governor Robert Ehrlich.
A native of New Jersey, he holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, a Master in Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Masters Degree in Principal Preparation from Concordia University. Mr. Bufis studied conducting with Stephen G. Peterson, James F. Keene, Joseph Manfredo, and Donald Schleicher and has pursued additional training through conducting symposiums led by Mallory Thompson, John Whitwell, Jamie Nix, H. Robert Reynolds, and Allan McMurray. He studied euphonium, his primary instrument, with David Unland, Mark Moore, and Kenneth Steinsultz.
Mr. Bufis is an active guest lecturer on the topics of leadership and management, curriculum design, music teacher evaluation, music technology, and music education advocacy, presenting his work in these areas at state and national conferences and universities. He is also an active clinician and adjudicator, working with bands of all ages and ability levels. He has served as a leadership consultant for bands and sports teams on the East Coast and throughout the Midwest working with students, coaches, and teachers. Mr. Bufis has received many National Band Association Citations of Excellence in recognition of the Westmont and Evanston Township High School band performances at prestigious events and has been nominated for inclusion in various “Who’s Who” publications since 2004. He received the 2018 Crystal E Award by the ETHS Booster Association as well as the 2018 Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award. He is an active member of ILMEA, NAfME, NBA, ASBDA, Phi Beta Mu, and was a collegiate member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Bufis is an Eagle Scout of Troop 76 in Ringwood, New Jersey and garnered a varsity letter in collegiate men’s swimming for his three years as an Ithaca College Bomber.
Haley Sullivan - Associate Director of Bands, Assistant Director of Jazz and Marching Bands
Email: sullivanh@eths202.org
Phone: (847) 424-7869
In May of 2017, Haley Sullivan joined the music faculty at Evanston Township High School. She holds the positions of the Associate Director of Bands, Assistant Director of the Jazz Program, Assistant Director of the Wildkit Marching Band and is one of the directors of the Basketball Pep Band. During the school day, Mrs. Sullivan co-teaches the four curricular concert bands, taking the lead in both Symphonic Band classes. In addition to directing concert bands, Mrs. Sullivan also teaches multiple levels of curricular Music Technology where students utilize Logic Pro X to create original works as well as explore aspects of recording and composition. She has helped to grow the Music Technology program during her tenure – it now incorporates three levels, offering students a wide variety of skills and experiences.
While at ETHS, Mrs. Sullivan has conducted the ETHS Wind Symphony at multiple prestigious venues and events including their 2017 performance at the Chicago Symphony Center, the 2018 Illinois Music Educators Conference, and the 2019 Music For All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN. She has also been a part of the program for the Wind Symphony’s last three consecutive invitations to the University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, of which they were named Honor Band in 2019.
Mrs. Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with High Distinction from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2016. She studied classical saxophone with Dr. Otis Murphy as well as jazz pedagogy with Dr. Lissa May. During her time at IU, she was a member of the traditional wind ensembles as well as extra-curricular performing groups. She was a three-year member of the IU Marching Hundred where she received opportunities to perform for the Indianapolis Colts, at Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl, and regularly at multiple Big Ten venues. Similarly, Mrs. Sullivan also performed in the Big Red Basketball Band for three years in NCAA games and tournaments.
Erin Leone - Associate Director of Bands, Assistant Director of Jazz and Marching Bands
Email: leonee@eths202.org
Phone: (847) 424-7869
Erin Leone recently graduated Summa cum laude from Millikin University earning her BM in Instrumental Music Education and a certificate in Jazz Studies. In the fall, she was nominated to be a participant in the 2022 ILMEA Emerging Leaders Conference. At Millikin, she was awarded the 2021 Pi Kappa Lambda Music History and Theory Award and the 2022 Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Sword of Honor, which recognizes leadership and professionalism in the music community. In 2022, Erin was honored with the Scovill Award which is the most coveted award for “overall excellence” at Millikin University. The prize is awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, service, and scholarship.
Erin completed her student teaching placement at Williamsville High School and Williamsville Junior High School. She helped direct two sections of the sixth-grade beginning band, the seventh and eighth-grade concert band and jazz studies course, and the high school concert band, marching band, and jazz band. As a student teacher, she had the opportunity to direct the WHS Jazz Band at their performance at the 2023 Illinois Music Educators Conference. She was able to be involved in many projects during the semester including starting a jazz combo at WJHS, helping organize and host IHSA Organizational at WHS, and commissioning a percussion quartet called Echoes from her good friend Victor Lawton II. Above all, she enjoyed her time teaching, growing alongside, and making memories with the students at WHS and WJHS.
At Millikin, Erin studied clarinet with Dr. David Cook, classical piano with Dr. Silvan Negrutiu, saxophone with Dr. Perry Rask, and jazz improvisation with Dr. David Moore. Erin participated in the clarinet, percussion, piano, and saxophone sections for the Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble. She was also the lead tenor saxophone in Jazz Band II, a 12 O’Clock Percussion Ensemble member, and a clarinetist for the Millikin Chamber Winds and the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra. On campus, she was the secretary for the Millikin Chapter of ILMEA, the treasurer for the Nu Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, the Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble Librarian, a musicology tutor, an instrumental locker room manager, and a private clarinet instructor for the Millikin Community Arts Academy. She enjoys playing with her cat, Marius, spending time with friends, and practicing in her free time. As a native of Bartlett, Illinois, she is very excited to move back to the Chicagoland area and begin her teaching career at Evanston Township High School.