About the Director
The Shelbyville Bands have been under the direction of Charity Astrouski since the fall of 2015. Mrs. Astrouski teaches 5th-12th grade band, ukulele club, and 8th grade power hour. She also teaches after school lessons for free for interested students who are enrolled in the band program. Charity was awarded the PTO Spotlight Teacher of the Month for December of 2019 as well as Teacher of the Year for the 2018/2019 school year. She has been a clinician at the EGM Clinic in Effingham in the fall of 2019 and a clinician at the ILMEA All-State Conference on Saturday Feb. 1st, 2020. The Ukulele Club members were clinicians with a demonstrative clinic on the ensemble to help other music teachers from around the state of IL.
Throughout her time in Shelbyville, she has added a ukulele club for any student from the grades of 4th-12th, who owns an instrument and would like to learn to play. This group will be made its debut in April 2017 and performs at every high school concert. There are two ukulele groups: Beginner rehearsals are held on Mondays/Tuesdays during flex and Advanced rehearse on Thursdays, students must test before being allowed into the advanced uke club.
Charity grew up in the small town of Flanagan, IL. She started playing saxophone in 4th grade, inspired by Lisa Simpson.
Mrs. A was fortunate enough to have a wonderful band director, who taught her from the time she started in 4th grade through 12th grade. He was always willing to help students in any way he could, even if that meant giving free lessons and staying late to make the music program the best it could be. Mrs. Astrouski would love to be able to do the same for her future students and is more than willing to give lessons before or after school to anyone interested.
Mrs. Astrouski graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2009 with degrees in music education and music performance. During her time at EIU, she performed in a variety of groups including Panther Marching Band, University Band on secondary instruments (Tuba & Clarinet), Mixed Chorus, Eastern Symphony Orchestra (Alto Saxophone), Wind Ensemble (Alto/Tenor/Bari Saxophones), Jazz Lab Band/Jazz Ensemble (Alto/Tenor/Bari Saxophones). She also performed several recitals in saxophone quartets and solo saxophone.
Mrs. A worked for Eastern Music Camps from 2008-2019. This is a summer music camp held at Eastern Illinois University for one week in July. Mrs. Astrouski was a counselor for 4 years, taught oboe masterclasses/sectionals for 1 year, taught saxophone masterclasses/sectionals for 3 years, and spent 8 years of her time at camps as an Assistant Dean of Women (where she was also in charge of the EMC Talent Show)
After graduating EIU, Mrs. A taught band in Bement, IL. She was the band director for 5 years (2009-2014). During this time, she grew the school's music program and added new ensembles. Mrs. A was in charge of a competitive marching band, basketball band, concert bands, co-directed two musicals, taught 4th grade general music, added a jazz ensemble, and gave lessons before and after school.
During the 2014/2015 school year, Mrs. Astrouski got married and moved to Wisconsin, where her husband worked at the time. She was a substitute teacher in four school districts (Marshall, Fall River, Sun Prairie, and Madison). She was able to teach a variety of subjects and age groups. Mrs. A was also able to work with leading music programs and with a variety of groups including: Wind Symphonies, Orchestras, Choirs, K-5 General Music, Middle School Bands, Beginning Bands, Music Theory/Guitar classes, Ukulele classes and even taught Hand Drumming.
Throughout her time in Shelbyville, she has added a ukulele club for any student from the grades of 4th-12th, who owns an instrument and would like to learn to play. This group will be made its debut in April 2017 and performs at every high school concert. There are two ukulele groups: Beginner rehearsals are held on Mondays/Tuesdays during flex and Advanced rehearse on Thursdays, students must test before being allowed into the advanced uke club.
Charity grew up in the small town of Flanagan, IL. She started playing saxophone in 4th grade, inspired by Lisa Simpson.
Mrs. A was fortunate enough to have a wonderful band director, who taught her from the time she started in 4th grade through 12th grade. He was always willing to help students in any way he could, even if that meant giving free lessons and staying late to make the music program the best it could be. Mrs. Astrouski would love to be able to do the same for her future students and is more than willing to give lessons before or after school to anyone interested.
Mrs. Astrouski graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2009 with degrees in music education and music performance. During her time at EIU, she performed in a variety of groups including Panther Marching Band, University Band on secondary instruments (Tuba & Clarinet), Mixed Chorus, Eastern Symphony Orchestra (Alto Saxophone), Wind Ensemble (Alto/Tenor/Bari Saxophones), Jazz Lab Band/Jazz Ensemble (Alto/Tenor/Bari Saxophones). She also performed several recitals in saxophone quartets and solo saxophone.
Mrs. A worked for Eastern Music Camps from 2008-2019. This is a summer music camp held at Eastern Illinois University for one week in July. Mrs. Astrouski was a counselor for 4 years, taught oboe masterclasses/sectionals for 1 year, taught saxophone masterclasses/sectionals for 3 years, and spent 8 years of her time at camps as an Assistant Dean of Women (where she was also in charge of the EMC Talent Show)
After graduating EIU, Mrs. A taught band in Bement, IL. She was the band director for 5 years (2009-2014). During this time, she grew the school's music program and added new ensembles. Mrs. A was in charge of a competitive marching band, basketball band, concert bands, co-directed two musicals, taught 4th grade general music, added a jazz ensemble, and gave lessons before and after school.
During the 2014/2015 school year, Mrs. Astrouski got married and moved to Wisconsin, where her husband worked at the time. She was a substitute teacher in four school districts (Marshall, Fall River, Sun Prairie, and Madison). She was able to teach a variety of subjects and age groups. Mrs. A was also able to work with leading music programs and with a variety of groups including: Wind Symphonies, Orchestras, Choirs, K-5 General Music, Middle School Bands, Beginning Bands, Music Theory/Guitar classes, Ukulele classes and even taught Hand Drumming.