Jacob Polancich is in his 22nd year of teaching and 17th year as Director of Bands and Music Department Teacher Leader at Arrowhead Union High School. He oversees all aspects of the program and conducts the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band South, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band and teaches the Music Foundations course. Prior to his time at Arrowhead, he served as Director of Bands at Rockridge High School in Taylor Ridge, Illinois. He also served as a graduate assistant with the University Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and assistant conductor of the UWM Youth Wind Ensembles and MYSO Wind Ensemble.

 

An advocate for commissioning projects and new music, Mr. Polancich has initiated and conducted AHS ensembles in over 20 commission/consortium projects with composers Michael Markowski, Carl Holmquist, John Mackey, Fred Sturm, Shuying Li, and Joshua Idio, among others. Under his baton, the AHS Wind Ensemble has received national recognition through quality performances and consortia. Notable performances include the National Band Association Wisconsin Chapter conventions (2011, 2016, 2020, 2025), the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference (2014, 2023), and the Sounds of Spring Festival at Carnegie Hall (2022), and the International Music Festival at the Kennedy Center (2024). He has led successful performance travel opportunities for Arrowhead instrumental music students to Washington D.C., Orlando/Disney, Toronto, Chicago, New York City, Ireland, Italy, and throughout the Midwest.

 

Mr. Polancich was awarded with the 2021 Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship and was also honored as one of the 2016-2017 Arrowhead Teachers of the Year. He holds a Master of Music (M.M.) degree in wind conducting from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Music Education from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL). In 2008, Mr. Polancich was selected as one of three conductors to participate in the National Band Association’s Young Conductor/Composer Project and has since received many Citations of Excellence from the same organization. He is an active percussionist, bassoonist, and guitarist having performed in a variety of settings throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and the Republic of China. He maintains an active performance and recording schedule with the Meisel Quartet, Montauk Project, and his own trio Sincerely, Linus. Mr. Polancich is a proud endorser/artist for Dream Cymbals and Pork Pie Drums. 

 

He holds active membership in the National Association for Music Education, Wisconsin Music Educators Association, National Band Association, the Wisconsin Concert Band Association, and currently serves as Vice President on the executive board for the Wisconsin chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He has presented sessions at the National Band Association Wisconsin Chapter Convention and the Wisconsin State Music Conference and continues to actively serve as a performer, guest conductor, and clinician.