Cardinal Marching Band Instructional Staff

Sean Kelley is Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at North Central College, where he directs the Chamber Players, Symphony Band and Cardinal Athletic Band Program, which comprises the Cardinal Marching Band and several basketball bands. Additionally, he instructs courses in instrumental conducting and music education, supervises instrumental music education practicum students and student-teachers, and teaches lessons in music composition. Prior to arriving at North Central, Sean served as Director of Bands for the Hillsboro and West Clermont school districts in Greater Cincinnati. He holds degrees in music education from Wittenberg University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and degrees in wind conducting from Wright State University and the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Kelley is an active composer, arranger, show designer, guest conductor, and clinician for high school bands throughout Chicagoland and his native Ohio. He has adjudicated music ensembles across the Midwest with the Central States Judges Association, and has served as Director of the Wright State University Concert Band, Assistant Director of the Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble, and as a teaching graduate assistant with the University of Oklahoma’s Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, “Pride of Oklahoma” Marching Band, and "Sound of the Sooners" basketball band.

In addition to studying extensively with his primary conducting mentors, David Booth and William Wakefield, he has opened new lines of research in the area of the interpretive development of wind band conductors. Through these endeavors, he has worked closely with Gary Green (University of Miami), Michael Haithcock (University of Michigan), Michael Hancock (University of Oklahoma), Gary Hill (Arizona State University), and Joseph Missal (Oklahoma State University). Sean is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the College Music Society (CMS), and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE). 

Dr. Kelley's latest composition, A Prairie Hymn has been published by Kjos Music Company. 

Meghan Kats is an alumni of Wheaton Warrenville South High School and North Central College. At both schools, she was a member of their marching band and winter guard. She completed her student teaching at Plainfield East High School, where she learned the logistics of creating, rehearsing and presenting a marching show. Meghan has been the color guard director at Plainfield East for four years and has been the assistant color guard director at Wheaton Warrenville South High School for the past two years. She has also collaborated with the marching staff to develop visual and musical aspects at both programs. Meghan is currently teaching general music and beginning band in the East Aurora school district and has taught middle school band in Plainfield. She is looking forward to being a part of the Cardinal Athletic Band again!

Dr. Andrew Veit is a freelance musician, composer, and educator based in the Chicago area. Dr. Veit serves as the Marching Percussion Coordinator at North Central College in Naperville, IL, and operates the Veit Percussion Studio. He also works with the Marion Catholic High School percussion program, and is the Co-Associate Director of the Heartland Marimba organization.

As a performing artist, Dr. Veit has performed and presented clinics at several professional organizations such as the Society of Composers Inc. National Conference, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Collegiate Band Director’s National Association conferences, the North American Saxophone Alliance, and the Iowa Bandmasters Association. In 2019 Dr. Veit presented over a dozen clinics at the Music for All Prairie State Band Festival at North Central College. He was also the primary percussion adjudicator at the 70th annual Hong Kong School Music and Speech Association’s Festival in 2018. Dr. Veit is a founding member of Heartland Marimba Quartet, who were featured soloists at the 2018 SCI National Conference at the University of Puget Sound. Dr. Veit and the Heartland Marimba Quartet had the pleasure of premiering “The Principal of Vibration,” a large multi-movement work by composer Brett Dietz at the Indianapolis Historical Society.

Dr. Veit is a busy performer having toured several times for concerto appearances. He has performed with the Kansas Wesleyan University Symphonic Band and has been invited to perform with the North Central College Wind Ensemble in 2020. Dr. Veit and HMQ commissioned and premiered Paul Brice-Brenner’s “Concerto for Marimba Quartet and Band,” which was funded by a grant awarded by the Iowa Arts Council. They are also currently working with composer Kevin Romanski for a concerto for marimba quartet and orchestra, which will be premiered in May 2020 with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.

As an avid proponent of new music, Dr. Veit has commissioned several works for solo percussion. “Grimoire” by Caleb Pickering is a solo for vibraphone and is a fast-paced and inspiring piece that allows the performer to display the fullest extent of their skill. Dr. Veit also specializes in finding gaps in the percussion repertoire, which led him to commission “Cerulean Tears,” a multiple percussion piece by female composer Dr. Jennifer Bellor of UNLV. This collaboration proved so successful that Dr. Bellor invited Dr. Veit to record her new vibraphone and marimba duet, “Time’s Arrest.”

Dr. Veit also has several original compositions published across many genres. His marimba quartet, “Nested,” was featured in a presentation on new works for high school

percussionists at the 2018 IBA Convention. His duo for baritone saxophone and percussion, “Flick,” was featured at the NASA Midwestern Regional Conference in 2015.

Dr. Veit earned degrees from the University of Delaware (B.M.), Texas A&M University-Commerce (M.M.), and The University of Iowa (D.M.A.). He is an artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion, Marimba One marimbas, and Beetle Percussion.

Lindsay Mandra first became interested in music since 6th grade when she joined band at Conrady Junior High School.  From that point on, she was hooked. In high school, she joined A.A. Stagg’s marching band, symphonic band, and musical crew. Marching band quickly became a passion of hers, which led to her joining the color and winter guard her sophomore year. As a junior and senior, the expectations were to mentor younger band and guard members.  Through this experience, Lindsay discovered her love for teaching.  She attended Saint Xavier University for her education degree, while coaching for the Oak Lawn Community High School’s marching band color guard. While coaching at Oak Lawn, Lindsay has enjoyed creating an environment where everyone is welcomed into the marching band community.  She currently is a special education teacher at Independence Junior High School where she also coaches cheer and sponsors the yearbook club.  Coach Lindsay is excited to be joining the North Central College marching band  community and forming strong relationships with her staff and students.