our directors
Mr. Elliot Smith
Director of Bands
Elliot Smith is currently the Director of Bands at Lake Central High School and has been with Lake Central since 2016. First serving as the Assistant Band Director and being appointed as the Director of Bands in 2018.
As the Director of Bands he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensembles, and the Marching Band. Under his direction the band program has been awarded numerous superior ratings at concert festivals, jazz festivals, and marching contests. He received his Bachelors in Music Education from Indiana State University and his Masters in Educational Administration from Ball State University.
His professional affiliations include the Indiana Bandmasters Association, Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana Jazz Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and the National Band Association.
nikelle Carlson
Assistant Director
Nikelle Carlson is beginning her teaching career at Lake Central High School. As Assistant Director, she conducts the Symphonic Band and assists with leading the Concert and Marching Bands.
Ms. Carlson is a proud native of Joliet, Illinois. She graduated from Indiana State University in 2024, where she received her Bachelors in Music Education. During her time at ISU, she was an active member of the Honors College and served as Program Manager for the Marching Sycamores, won the 2023 Concerto Competition to perform with the ISU Wind Orchestra, and was selected for the Indiana Music Education Association Intercollegiate Band in 2022 and 2024.
Ryan Lauciello
Percussion Director
Ryan Lauciello is the Percussion Director for the Lake Central School Corporation where he directs the marching percussion program, winter percussion ensemble, and concert percussion ensembles. Previously, Mr. Lauciello has worked as a percussion technician at Joliet West High School and Lincoln-Way East High School. Under his direction, Joliet West's marching percussion section received a Best Percussion Award during their 2021 competitive season.
As a performer, Mr. Lauciello was a member of Illinois State University's percussion ensemble and top wind ensemble. During his time in those ensembles, he has performed at the Illinois Music Educator Conference held in Peoria, Illinois. Mr. Lauciello was also a member of the Cavaliers Indoor Percussion program, a world class winter percussion ensemble, during 2017 and 2018.
Mr. Lauciello holds two bachelor's degrees in music education and music composition from Illinois State University.
Ryan O’Dell
Color Guard Director
Ryan O’Dell is the current color guard director at Lake Central High School in St. John, IN.
Ryan began his color guard career performing with the Purdue University Golden Silks Winter Guard where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English Education. After performing 5 seasons, Ryan became the assistant director for Purdue Winter Guard before moving to Northwest Indiana and beginning his teaching career at Portage High School, Portage IN.