Randy Sundell

Randy Sundell is a distinguished music educator and conductor with a career spanning over three decades in the Illinois music education community. He holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Sundell began his teaching career at Oak Grove School District #68 in Green Oaks, Illinois, where he served as Director of Bands. He then became the Associate Director of Bands at Libertyville High School, contributing to its nationally recognized music program. In 1999, he was appointed as the founding Director of Bands at Vernon Hills High School (VHHS), a position he had held since the school's inception.

At VHHS, Sundell directed multiple ensembles, including the Freshman Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Football Pep Band. He also served as the assistant director of the Symphony Orchestra and taught Advanced Placement Music Theory. Under his leadership, the VHHS Wind Ensemble achieved significant acclaim, being selected to perform at the Illinois Superstate Festival hosted by the University of Illinois every year since 2003. They were named the Honor Band in 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2023, and 2025. The ensemble has also been featured on WFMT's "Innovations" program and has received national recognition in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors competition.

Beyond his work at VHHS, Sundell is an active performer and conductor. He plays bassoon in the woodwind quintet "Winds Off The Lake" and serves as the Associate Conductor of the North Suburban Wind Ensemble, a community group dedicated to performing high-caliber wind literature.

Sundell's contributions to music education have been recognized with several honors, including the Chicagoland Music Educators Award from Quinlan and Fabish Music in 2004 and the Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the Phi Beta Mu professional band directors fraternity in January 2025. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and maintains active memberships in organizations such as NAfME, the Illinois Music Educators Association, the International Double Reed Society, the National Band Association, the American School Band Directors Association, and Phi Beta Mu.

Sundell is also a sought-after judge and clinician in the Chicago area, sharing his expertise with young musicians and fellow educators. His dedication to excellence in music education has left a lasting impact on the programs he has led and the students he has mentored.