Mrs. Melanie Butcher is in her seventeenth year of teaching in the Macomb Community Unit School District #185 where she is the 7th-12th grade Choral Director and conducts seven choral ensembles.  Each year, her students participate in IGSMA, IESA and IHSA Solo and Ensemble and Organization Contests.  Mrs. Butcher’s choirs make frequent community appearances and many of her students continue their education in the field of music after graduating from Macomb High School. Mrs. Butcher previously taught music in the Plainfield School District and at St. Paul Catholic School.

Mrs. Butcher has been actively involved with the WIU Summer Music Institute since 1997.  She has served as a counselor, Head counselor, voice teacher, section leader and director of the Junior High Chorus. Mrs. Butcher holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Arts degree in choral conducting from Western Illinois University.

Mrs. Butcher resides in Macomb with her husband, Joe and their two sons, Nick and Andy, and their dogs, Savvy and Ellie.

Mr. Ivey is thrilled to be in his fifth year at Edison in Macomb. He directs the 6th Grade Choir, 7/8th Grade Swing Choir, holds daily General Music Classes for Fourth and Fifth grade and will be working with 7th Grade and Concert Choir at the Jr/Sr High School. He also teaches regular Piano lessons outside of school to students of all ages. Last year, in addition to regular school performances, Mr. Ivey and his students participated in the District 4 ILMEA elementary honor choir, the WIU Holiday Festival of Choirs concert, and the WIU Opera Hansel and Gretel.

He has a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting (’14) and a Bachelors in Music Education (’12) both from Western Illinois University. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Association, Illinois Choral Directors Association, The Barbershop Harmony Society and The American Guild of Organists.

During the Summer, Mr. Ivey frequently teaches at the Western Illinois University Summer Music Institute and attends Choral Directors conferences or Conducting workshops. He played Potiphar and Simeon in the 2018 WIU Summerstage performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat alongside many Macomb students and community members. He also served as one of the leaders of Rising Stars, a summer youth devised theatre experience for K-8th grade students. Otherwise, he likes to spend time with family and friends around the Midwest.