Meet Our Team
Mrs. Driskell
Elizabeth Driskell is in her 21st year of teaching instrumental music. Since 2005, she has been the band director at McKinley Middle School in Cedar Rapids, where she teaches 6th-8th grade band, jazz band and marching band.
Mrs. Driskell attended Northwestern University where she earned a bachelor’s degree at the Medill School of Journalism and a master’s degree in music education. She studied conducting with John P. Paynter and Steven G. Peterson. In addition to playing clarinet and bass clarinet in the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, she was head drum major of the Northwestern University “Wildcat” Marching Band. Her teaching career began in 1995 at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, where she served as Associate Director of Bands and Director of Orchestras. Mrs. Driskell co-taught the ninth grade concert band, served as woodwind specialist and assisted with the “Band of Blue” marching band. The orchestras under her direction received consistent Division I ratings at Large Group Contest and performed at the North American Music Festival in New York. In 1999, she moved to the Chicago suburbs and taught orchestra at Wheeling High School. After their children were born, the Driskells realized that Iowa is a great place to raise a family and moved back to Cedar Rapids in 2002.
During her tenure, the McKinley Band has grown from 110 to 185 students. McKinley ensembles have performed at the Adventureland Festival of Bands, NEIBA Middle School Large Group Festival and the Coe College Jazz Summit. Nearly all band students perform in the All-City Solo and Ensemble festival each year. More than 60 students participate in the all-volunteer McKinley Marching Madness. "Triple M" has appeared in the Cedar Rapids Holiday DeLight Parade, SaPaDaPaSo parade as well as other events throughout Cedar Rapids.
Mrs. Driskell is an honored recipient of the KCRG A+ for Education Award. Professional affiliations include: Iowa Bandmasters Association, Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, National Band Association and Iowa State Educators Association. She is the Eastern Iowa Director of the Northwestern University Alumni Admissions Council and is the Past-President of the Northwestern University Marching and Band Alumni (NUMBALUMS). She and Thad have two children, Carolyn and James.
Mrs. Driskell attended Northwestern University where she earned a bachelor’s degree at the Medill School of Journalism and a master’s degree in music education. She studied conducting with John P. Paynter and Steven G. Peterson. In addition to playing clarinet and bass clarinet in the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, she was head drum major of the Northwestern University “Wildcat” Marching Band. Her teaching career began in 1995 at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, where she served as Associate Director of Bands and Director of Orchestras. Mrs. Driskell co-taught the ninth grade concert band, served as woodwind specialist and assisted with the “Band of Blue” marching band. The orchestras under her direction received consistent Division I ratings at Large Group Contest and performed at the North American Music Festival in New York. In 1999, she moved to the Chicago suburbs and taught orchestra at Wheeling High School. After their children were born, the Driskells realized that Iowa is a great place to raise a family and moved back to Cedar Rapids in 2002.
During her tenure, the McKinley Band has grown from 110 to 185 students. McKinley ensembles have performed at the Adventureland Festival of Bands, NEIBA Middle School Large Group Festival and the Coe College Jazz Summit. Nearly all band students perform in the All-City Solo and Ensemble festival each year. More than 60 students participate in the all-volunteer McKinley Marching Madness. "Triple M" has appeared in the Cedar Rapids Holiday DeLight Parade, SaPaDaPaSo parade as well as other events throughout Cedar Rapids.
Mrs. Driskell is an honored recipient of the KCRG A+ for Education Award. Professional affiliations include: Iowa Bandmasters Association, Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, National Band Association and Iowa State Educators Association. She is the Eastern Iowa Director of the Northwestern University Alumni Admissions Council and is the Past-President of the Northwestern University Marching and Band Alumni (NUMBALUMS). She and Thad have two children, Carolyn and James.