Marion CUSD #2

Meet the Director!

Ms. Francis has served in education for six years. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a Master's of Music Education from Eastern Illinois University. Along with her duties as the Director of Bands at Marion Junior High, she is the Assistant Director of the Marching Wildcat Band at Marion High School. She has been awarded "Teacher of the Year" twice in her career. Ms. Francis is involved in professional music organizations; she is the former chair of ILMEA Senior Chorus for several years and currently serves as a chair for ILMEA Junior Bands. She has also judged music competitions such as ILMEA district auditions, IGSMA Organization Contests for bands/choirs/orchestras, and IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest. Ms. Francis is also the Director of the High School Concert Band for the SIU-C Summer Music Camp.  

Ms. Francis is an active performer with many ensembles, concert bands, orchestras, jazz bands, and musical companies as a concert and orchestral bassoonist, jazz saxophonist, and woodwind specialist. She has performed with SIU-C Symphony Orchestra, SEMO Symphony Orchestra, McCleod Summer Playhouse, and a three week orchestral and chamber ensemble festival called Festival Suoni d'Abruzzo in the Adriatic coast of Italy. Ms. Francis is always excited and interested in the growth and exploration of new musical and performance opportunities to foster a creative and successful experience for all musicians at all levels.