Batavia High School Music Faculty
Peter Barsch
Chorus Teacher
Contact: peter.barsch@bps101.net; 630.937.8639
Peter Barsch teaches all curricular and co-curricular choirs at Batavia High School. Mr. Barsch holds a Master's Degree in Choral Music Education from Northern Illinois University and two Bachelor's Degrees from the Honors Program at Loyola University Chicago. Before coming to BHS in 2015, Mr. Barsch spent eleven years as the choir director at Oswego East High School since its founding in 2004. He was a Quarter-Finalist for the inaugural Grammy "Music Educator of the Year" Award in 2014, and has been listed in "Who's Who among America's Teachers".
Mr. Barsch and his wife Annie live in Batavia with their three children. An avid reader, he loves history, historical fiction, and sci-fi/fantasy. He maintains a busy performing schedule, often singing and recording with groups like Cor Cantiamo, the Canterbury Singers, or the choirs at Gary United Methodist Church and Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. He has also led contemporary worship with voice, bass, or piano at Community Christian Church's Yellow Box campus in Naperville.
Chorus Teacher
Contact: peter.barsch@bps101.net; 630.937.8639
Peter Barsch teaches all curricular and co-curricular choirs at Batavia High School. Mr. Barsch holds a Master's Degree in Choral Music Education from Northern Illinois University and two Bachelor's Degrees from the Honors Program at Loyola University Chicago. Before coming to BHS in 2015, Mr. Barsch spent eleven years as the choir director at Oswego East High School since its founding in 2004. He was a Quarter-Finalist for the inaugural Grammy "Music Educator of the Year" Award in 2014, and has been listed in "Who's Who among America's Teachers".
Mr. Barsch and his wife Annie live in Batavia with their three children. An avid reader, he loves history, historical fiction, and sci-fi/fantasy. He maintains a busy performing schedule, often singing and recording with groups like Cor Cantiamo, the Canterbury Singers, or the choirs at Gary United Methodist Church and Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. He has also led contemporary worship with voice, bass, or piano at Community Christian Church's Yellow Box campus in Naperville.
Chris Owen
Band Teacher, AP Music Theory Teacher
Contact: chris.owen@bps101.net; 630.937.8640
Chris Owen is one of the band directors and Music Department Support personnel at Batavia High School, where he has been teaching since 2012. Mr. Owen co-teaches all four levels of curricular concert bands and percussion classes as well as teaches AP Music Theory. During his tenure, the Batavia Music Department was honored as a Grammy Signature School Semi-Finalist in three consecutive years by the Grammy Foundation and Batavia, IL was listed as a Top Community in Music Education by the NAMM Foundation five times, most recently in 2019. Under his direction, the Batavia Wind Symphony has won their class at the State of Illinois Concert Band Festival twice and was invited to perform at the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Batavia Wind Symphony performed at the 2018 Illinois Music Educator's Conference and the 2019 Western Illinois University Showcase of Bands. Since 2018, Mr. Owen has founded and runs the Batavia Band Festival, which is a non-competitive, educational band festival that gives a top-notch experience to non-top level concert bands. Mr. Owen directs the Batavia Marching Band and Jazz Workshop, two volunteer co-curricular ensembles at Batavia High School. Mr. Owen has served as guest conductor for a number of different bands including the U-46 Middle School Honor Band Festival in 2019, Wheaton College Symphonic Band in 2015, and the Elmhurst College Wind Ensemble in 2012 and has been awarded the National Band Association’s “Citation of Excellence.” Previously, Mr. Owen was Assistant Director of Bands at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, IL from 2006-2012.
A native of Lansing, Illinois, Mr. Owen is a 2005 graduate of The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mr. Owen has completed Masters coursework in Educational Leadership at Aurora University and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University. His teachers and mentors include Greg Bimm, Brian Shaw, Mike Madonia, Joanne May, Ross Heise, Ross Kellan, Bobby Lambert, David Allie, Tim McGovern and Joseph Manfredo. Mr. Owen lives in North Aurora, IL with his wife Theresa, a special education teacher at Batavia High School, and their two sons Daniel (5) and Thomas (3).
Band Teacher, AP Music Theory Teacher
Contact: chris.owen@bps101.net; 630.937.8640
Chris Owen is one of the band directors and Music Department Support personnel at Batavia High School, where he has been teaching since 2012. Mr. Owen co-teaches all four levels of curricular concert bands and percussion classes as well as teaches AP Music Theory. During his tenure, the Batavia Music Department was honored as a Grammy Signature School Semi-Finalist in three consecutive years by the Grammy Foundation and Batavia, IL was listed as a Top Community in Music Education by the NAMM Foundation five times, most recently in 2019. Under his direction, the Batavia Wind Symphony has won their class at the State of Illinois Concert Band Festival twice and was invited to perform at the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Batavia Wind Symphony performed at the 2018 Illinois Music Educator's Conference and the 2019 Western Illinois University Showcase of Bands. Since 2018, Mr. Owen has founded and runs the Batavia Band Festival, which is a non-competitive, educational band festival that gives a top-notch experience to non-top level concert bands. Mr. Owen directs the Batavia Marching Band and Jazz Workshop, two volunteer co-curricular ensembles at Batavia High School. Mr. Owen has served as guest conductor for a number of different bands including the U-46 Middle School Honor Band Festival in 2019, Wheaton College Symphonic Band in 2015, and the Elmhurst College Wind Ensemble in 2012 and has been awarded the National Band Association’s “Citation of Excellence.” Previously, Mr. Owen was Assistant Director of Bands at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, IL from 2006-2012.
A native of Lansing, Illinois, Mr. Owen is a 2005 graduate of The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mr. Owen has completed Masters coursework in Educational Leadership at Aurora University and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University. His teachers and mentors include Greg Bimm, Brian Shaw, Mike Madonia, Joanne May, Ross Heise, Ross Kellan, Bobby Lambert, David Allie, Tim McGovern and Joseph Manfredo. Mr. Owen lives in North Aurora, IL with his wife Theresa, a special education teacher at Batavia High School, and their two sons Daniel (5) and Thomas (3).
Allison Liska
Orchestra Teacher
Contact: allison.liska@bps101.net; 630.937.8664
Allison Liska has taught orchestra in Batavia since 2016. Ms. Liska attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education, attending on a full-tuition scholarship for viola performance under the instruction of Prof. Rudolf Haken. Upon graduation, she received her first orchestra director position in DeKalb, Illinois, teaching middle and high school orchestras from 2009-2015. While teaching in DeKalb, she earned her Master's Degree in viola performance at Northern Illinois University under the instruction of Prof. Tony Devroye.
Ms. Liska also has a unique background in Irish and Scottish fiddling, having performed with several Celtic ensembles, and has taught private fiddle lessons and masterclasses on the topic.
Ms. Liska lives in Batavia with her baby daughter and five pet birds. She frequently gigs for weddings and other events, but has also performed with the Fox Valley Orchestra and Kishwaukee Symphony. In her free time, Mrs. Liska enjoys painting, traveling, spending time outdoors, and being with family and friends.
Orchestra Teacher
Contact: allison.liska@bps101.net; 630.937.8664
Allison Liska has taught orchestra in Batavia since 2016. Ms. Liska attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education, attending on a full-tuition scholarship for viola performance under the instruction of Prof. Rudolf Haken. Upon graduation, she received her first orchestra director position in DeKalb, Illinois, teaching middle and high school orchestras from 2009-2015. While teaching in DeKalb, she earned her Master's Degree in viola performance at Northern Illinois University under the instruction of Prof. Tony Devroye.
Ms. Liska also has a unique background in Irish and Scottish fiddling, having performed with several Celtic ensembles, and has taught private fiddle lessons and masterclasses on the topic.
Ms. Liska lives in Batavia with her baby daughter and five pet birds. She frequently gigs for weddings and other events, but has also performed with the Fox Valley Orchestra and Kishwaukee Symphony. In her free time, Mrs. Liska enjoys painting, traveling, spending time outdoors, and being with family and friends.
Brian Van Kley
Band Teacher, Rock and Roll Methods Teacher
Contact: brian.vankley@bps101.net; 630.937.8641
Brian Van Kley joins the Batavia High School Music staff after ten years as the Assistant Band Director for Naperville North High School in District 203. Mr. VanKley teaches all levels of curricular concert band, percussion classes and Rock and Roll Methods at Batavia High School as well as co-directing the marching band, pep band and jazz ensemble. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in 1996. After teaching in Peoria District 150 and Plainfield District 202, he attended Northern Illinois University, studying conducting under Dr. Ronnie Wooten, and earning his Masters of Music Education in 2003. After serving that institution for one semester as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education, he began his tenure at Naperville North. In addition to his studies in Music Education, Mr. Van Kley has earned graduate credits in Reading Instruction, a subject which holds a great deal of interest for him.
Band Teacher, Rock and Roll Methods Teacher
Contact: brian.vankley@bps101.net; 630.937.8641
Brian Van Kley joins the Batavia High School Music staff after ten years as the Assistant Band Director for Naperville North High School in District 203. Mr. VanKley teaches all levels of curricular concert band, percussion classes and Rock and Roll Methods at Batavia High School as well as co-directing the marching band, pep band and jazz ensemble. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in 1996. After teaching in Peoria District 150 and Plainfield District 202, he attended Northern Illinois University, studying conducting under Dr. Ronnie Wooten, and earning his Masters of Music Education in 2003. After serving that institution for one semester as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education, he began his tenure at Naperville North. In addition to his studies in Music Education, Mr. Van Kley has earned graduate credits in Reading Instruction, a subject which holds a great deal of interest for him.
