ROCHELLE – The Rochelle Township High School marching band was honored to rehearse with Northern Illinois University Huskie Marching Band Director Dr. Thomas Bough Tuesday morning.

Dr. Bough has been at the helm as NIU director of athletic bands for 16 years. He also conducts the wind symphony and teaches graduate conducting and instrumental arranging.

While earning degrees at Arizona State University he was a student of Sam Pilafian and Dan Perantoni. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Missouri State University.  There, Bough was active in both vocal and instrumental music.

He has been assistant director of bands and professor of tuba and euphonium at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a high school band director. He is the founding conductor and music director of the Fox Valley Brass Band in Aurora.