Mr. Andrew Jacobi

Director of Bands

Email: ajacobi@ottawahigh.com

Andrew Jacobi is presently the Director of Bands at Ottawa Township High School. He started off his musical career on trombone in seventh grade and attended William Fremd High School in Palatine, IL. During his high school career, Mr. Jacobi played in the school's top band, which performed at the Illinois Super State Band Festival in 2007. He also auditioned for and made the ILMEA District 7 Jazz Band and Concert Band. Mr. Jacobi was also very involved in other activities. He was a member of student council, National Honor Society, track, and cross-country. His senior year, he qualified for state in cross-country and ran 15:15 at the state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria, IL.

For his college years, Mr. Jacobi attended University of Illinois and studied music education. In his time there, he spent a large amount of time performing in the various ensembles offered and was a member of the Marching Illini. In the Marching Illini, Mr. Jacobi had the opportunity to travel to two bowl games: the Texas Bowl (2011) and the Fight Hunger Bowl (2012) in San Francisco. In his freshman year, Mr. Jacobi also walked on to the varsity cross-country team and was an active runner throughout his time on campus.

During his college years, he also studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, where he was able to immerse himself into his musical studies in a city where the origins of western music were born. There he was able to study music history and see and hear musical performances in a place where music was the centerpiece of the culture.

After completing his student teaching in 2012, Mr. Jacobi graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and attained his first teaching position as the Director of Bands at Richwoods High School in Peoria, IL, where he was the director for four years. In 2016, he assumed the Director of Bands position at Ottawa Township High School and currently works there today. He also completed his Master of Music Education degree at the University of Illinois in the summer of 2016.

At Ottawa Township High School, Mr. Jacobi is in charge of leading the Marching Pirates, Pep Bands, Concert Bands, and Jazz Band in addition to teaching Music Theory.

Ms. Ali Stachowicz

Director of Choirs

Email: astachowicz@ottawahigh.com

Office Phone: (815)431-2403

Ali Stachowicz attended high school at Lincoln-Way North in Frankfort, Illinois, where she developed her passion for the wonderful opportunities, growth, and wholeness that comes with singing in a choir. She is a proud alumna of Bradley University, from which she graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education. During her time at Bradley, she sang with and served on the executive board of the Bradley University Chorale, with whom she toured Denmark, Norway, and various parts of the United States. She also sang in the Bradley University Chamber Singers and Community Choir. Additionally, she held positions in the Chancel Choir at First Federated Church in Peoria, Illinois, and as a counselor at Interlochen Arts Camp. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music in Vocal Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. 

Ms. Stacks directs the three choirs at OTHS, the contemporary pop a cappella ensemble, and music directs the fall musical alongside colleague Suzannah Walter. She loves serving the Illinois Valley community and inspiring her high school musicians to grow into good musicians and better people.