Jacob Polancich

Educator

Jacob Polancich is the director of bands and music department teacher leader at Arrowhead Union High School where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Concert Bands, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band and teaches Music Theory.

An advocate for commissioning projects and new music, Mr. Polancich has initiated and conducted AHS ensembles in over 15 commission/consortium projects with composers from around the world. He has led successful performance travel opportunities for Arrowhead students to Washington D.C., Orlando/Disney, Toronto, Chicago, New York City, Ireland, Northern Italy, and several destinations throughout the Midwest.

He holds a Master of Music (M.M.) degree in wind conducting from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Music Education from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL). He has received five Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association. He is also an accomplished bassoonist and percussionist, having performed in a variety of ensembles throughout the United States, Canada, England, and the Republic of China. He has most recently performed and collaborated with the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy, Vivre Musicale (professional chamber music), the Meisel QuArtet, Montauk Project (drums-saxophone duo), and Sincerely, Linus. He can be heard on their albums Synergy (2011), Stayin' the Course (2014), Volume I (2015), Monster (2017), Walking Into a Room (2018), Momentum (2019), and his latest album Quarx (2020). Mr. Polancich is an endorser/artist for Dream Cymbals and Pork Pie Drums.

He continues to serve as an adjudicator, performer, and guest conductor for various festivals and concerts.