Hello! My name is Mrs. Lisa M. Banos-Cruz. If you have found yourself wandering about my website, chances are that you are either a student or parent of one of my students. I think that communication is vital in education, especially in music education, so this is why I have created this website. I hope that it serves your needs and allows you to find the information you need, when you need it! If not, feel free to send me an email or call me at (708) 424-0418 ext. 2257.
Now, to tell you a bit about myself...
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I treasure my family and our heritage which is half Mexican-American (Puebla) and half Lithuanian-American. My family has been my support system and inspiration throughout my life. Thanks to my family, I have a wide variety of musical experiences beginning with my learning the flute at age 9... it was love at first sight! I was given private lessons from several renown flute instructors in the area from age 10 through college. I was also a proud member of the St. Rita High School Band from my 6th grade year via early audition (1990) through my high school graduation in 1996. I largely attribute my love of music education to my years at St. Rita, teaching younger students on new instruments, being section leader, leading the group as drum major from 1994-1996, being elected the band president, and being given the honor to return to St. Rita after my graduation as a band instructor.
Upon graduation from Lourdes High in 1996, I attended St. Xavier University and spent five years there attaining my Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree. Since then, I have also earned my ELL (English Language Learners) endorsement as well as my Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University. In 2000, I married my husband, Richard Cruz and since we have had three wonderful children, Antonio Roberto (2000), Salvador Tomas (2005) and Isabela Sonatina (2007). To answer that burning question, yes, my children are musically inclined... Antonio plays the alto saxophone and is a bass singer. Salvador plays the guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, tuba, trumpet, and drums. Isabela plays the piano and percussion. After graduation of college, I served as the music department chair at Maria High School from 2001-2004. There I taught every music class imaginable: Beginning Choir, Advanced Choir, General Music and Orchestra. In addition to these classes, I founded two brand new classes to the school - Beginning Instruments (a beginning orchestra class) and Class Piano (a fully functioning electronic piano lab). During my time at Maria, I was also the music director for all of the school musicals (Cinderella, A...My Name is Still Alice, The Wizard of Oz) in addition to producing plays such as A Piece of My Heart and Romeo and Juliet. While at Maria, I also became one of three directors in charge of the southwest area flute choir, Flutes Unlimited!. With this group, I worked with three ensembles, an elementary school age ensemble, a high school ensemble and an adult ensemble. Most of my work was focused on the high school ensemble named the Symphonic Choir while I also enjoyed performing in the adult group.
In 2004, I began working at Central Middle School (Junior High, at the time) as the general music teacher in addition to becoming the choir director. I am proud to say that I have helped the choir succeed and achieve many accolades including many first place rankings in the Illinois Grade School Music Association Choir Competition. Under my direction, the choir was given the opportunity to perform twice at the Chicago Wolves Hockey Games, where the choir performed before the national anthem for the entire crowd and was even on the "Jumbo-tron"! We have even had some educational trips: to the Cadillac Palace Theater to see the Tony and Grammy Award Winning musical, Wicked and to the the Chicago Symphony Center to see the show, Welcome, Yule! performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. I truly enjoy working with the choir at Central and am always bursting with new ideas for performances, field trips, learning experiences, and FUN! If you are considering joining our choir, TRY IT! As I tell all of my students, whether you are a great singer or have trouble holding a tune, as long as you have a great attitude, I PROMISE that I can guide you to improve to the next level! See you at rehearsal!!!
Now, to tell you a bit about myself...
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I treasure my family and our heritage which is half Mexican-American (Puebla) and half Lithuanian-American. My family has been my support system and inspiration throughout my life. Thanks to my family, I have a wide variety of musical experiences beginning with my learning the flute at age 9... it was love at first sight! I was given private lessons from several renown flute instructors in the area from age 10 through college. I was also a proud member of the St. Rita High School Band from my 6th grade year via early audition (1990) through my high school graduation in 1996. I largely attribute my love of music education to my years at St. Rita, teaching younger students on new instruments, being section leader, leading the group as drum major from 1994-1996, being elected the band president, and being given the honor to return to St. Rita after my graduation as a band instructor.
Upon graduation from Lourdes High in 1996, I attended St. Xavier University and spent five years there attaining my Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree. Since then, I have also earned my ELL (English Language Learners) endorsement as well as my Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University. In 2000, I married my husband, Richard Cruz and since we have had three wonderful children, Antonio Roberto (2000), Salvador Tomas (2005) and Isabela Sonatina (2007). To answer that burning question, yes, my children are musically inclined... Antonio plays the alto saxophone and is a bass singer. Salvador plays the guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, tuba, trumpet, and drums. Isabela plays the piano and percussion. After graduation of college, I served as the music department chair at Maria High School from 2001-2004. There I taught every music class imaginable: Beginning Choir, Advanced Choir, General Music and Orchestra. In addition to these classes, I founded two brand new classes to the school - Beginning Instruments (a beginning orchestra class) and Class Piano (a fully functioning electronic piano lab). During my time at Maria, I was also the music director for all of the school musicals (Cinderella, A...My Name is Still Alice, The Wizard of Oz) in addition to producing plays such as A Piece of My Heart and Romeo and Juliet. While at Maria, I also became one of three directors in charge of the southwest area flute choir, Flutes Unlimited!. With this group, I worked with three ensembles, an elementary school age ensemble, a high school ensemble and an adult ensemble. Most of my work was focused on the high school ensemble named the Symphonic Choir while I also enjoyed performing in the adult group.
In 2004, I began working at Central Middle School (Junior High, at the time) as the general music teacher in addition to becoming the choir director. I am proud to say that I have helped the choir succeed and achieve many accolades including many first place rankings in the Illinois Grade School Music Association Choir Competition. Under my direction, the choir was given the opportunity to perform twice at the Chicago Wolves Hockey Games, where the choir performed before the national anthem for the entire crowd and was even on the "Jumbo-tron"! We have even had some educational trips: to the Cadillac Palace Theater to see the Tony and Grammy Award Winning musical, Wicked and to the the Chicago Symphony Center to see the show, Welcome, Yule! performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. I truly enjoy working with the choir at Central and am always bursting with new ideas for performances, field trips, learning experiences, and FUN! If you are considering joining our choir, TRY IT! As I tell all of my students, whether you are a great singer or have trouble holding a tune, as long as you have a great attitude, I PROMISE that I can guide you to improve to the next level! See you at rehearsal!!!