Directors

Alexander M. Wilga

Alexander M. Wilga serves as Director of Bands and Director of the Marching Blue Devils at Davenport Central High School in Davenport, Iowa. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Wilga earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music in 2009. He went on to receive a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Buena Vista University in 2017 and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in K–12 Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University in 2024. His teachers and mentors include Dr. Charles Menghini, Dr. Robert Sinclair, Dean Stacy Dolan, Professor David Eccles, Dr. Ken Thompson, Mr. Eric Blankenship, and Mr. Michael Young.

Under Mr. Wilga’s direction, the Davenport Central band program has experienced tremendous growth and success. He teaches all brass lessons, conducts numerous brass ensembles, directs the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, co-directs all other concert bands, directs Jazz 2, assists with Jazz 3 and 4, and serves as the brass and visual caption head of the Marching Blue Devils. Ensembles under his direction consistently perform at a high level, earning Division I “Superior” ratings at Iowa High School Music Association events and invitations to perform at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference.

In March 2023 and 2025, the Davenport Central Wind Symphony performed at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall as part of the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival. In May 2019, the Davenport Central Wind Ensemble Brass was featured in a lobby concert at the Iowa Bandmasters Conference. The Marching Blue Devils have represented the State of Iowa in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. (2015), performed in the 2023 London New Year’s Day Parade, and are scheduled to march in the 2027 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.

Mr. Wilga is the recipient of the Dr. Lewis A. Schmidt Citation of Excellence Award, recognizing VanderCook alumni who demonstrate exceptional commitment and impact in music education. He is a two-time GRAMMY Music Educator Award quarterfinalist, a 2022 Yamaha “40 Under 40” Music Educator, and has received multiple honors from the National Band Association, including the Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence (2016) and the Citation of Excellence (2017, 2022, 2025).

Mr. Wilga has served as the Southeastern Iowa representative on the Iowa High School Music Association Marching Band Affairs Committee, the Iowa Bandmasters Association Research and Development Committee, and currently chairs the IHSMA/IBA Concert Band Affairs Committee. He is the immediate past president of the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association and serves as the Iowa Chair for the National Band Association.

His professional affiliations include The Recording Academy, NAfME, NBA, IBA, SEIBA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Wilga resides in Davenport, Iowa, with his wife, Laura, an elementary teacher in the Pleasant Valley School District, and their son, Benjamin.

Michael Speziale

Michael “Mikey” Speziale is thrilled to serve as Assistant Band Director at Davenport Central High School and Sudlow Intermediate School. Mr. Speziale is a recent graduate from Northern Illinois University (NIU) with degrees in Music Education and Percussion Performance. 

During his time at NIU, he was fortunate to explore a variety of ensembles such as their Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and their world-renowned Steelband. Mr. Speziale was well involved with their World Music program through Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Middle Eastern, Chinese Music, and Gamelan ensembles. His student teaching experience led to Jane Adams Junior High in Schaumburg and Hatch Elementary in Oak Park, where he learned steelband arranging techniques with Evan Jacobson and his award winning elementary steelband program.

Mr. Speziale was an active participant in the Illinois marching scene by serving as the Percussion Director at Kaneland High School for 3 years, and serving as Co-director for a season of their competitive indoor marching percussion. He also enjoyed teaching private lessons to students of all ages through NIU’s Community School of the Arts.

Outside of music, Mr. Speziale enjoys taking care of house plants, playing board games, and spending time with his loved ones, including his girlfriend and their cat, Saffie.

David W. Nicholson

Mr. David W. Nicholson serves as Co-Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies at Davenport Central High School. He is the primary conductor for the Wind Ensemble and WInd Symphony and co-directs all other concert bands. He is also the primary director for Jazz 1, Jazz 3, and Jazz 4, as well as the woodwind caption head for the Marching Blue Devils. Bands under his leadership are consistent recipients of Division 1 Superior ratings. In 2025, Jazz 1 placed 4th at the Iowa Jazz Championships, the highest placement in school history.

Mr. Nicholson is an alumnus of the University of Iowa where he received his Bachelors in Music Performance with Teaching Certification in May of 2018. He studied under distinguished faculty at the University of Iowa including saxophonists Dr. Kenneth Tse and Dr. Damani Phillips. While at the University of Iowa, Mr. Nicholson performed in numerous ensembles including, Symphony Band, Johnson County Landmark, Jazz Combo, Saxophone Quartet, the Iowa Saxophonists’ Workshop, the Iowa Volleyball Pep Band, and the Hawkeye Marching Band. His highlights musically include performing with the Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. Mark Heidel and Dr. Myron Welch at the Iowa Bandmasters Association, being a four year member of Johnson County Landmark, being a founding member of the top undergraduate jazz combo, performing with the Iowa Saxophonists’ workshop in Hong Kong and Chengdu, China, and taking a concert tour of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. 

Mr. Nicholson currently serves at both the district and state levels as the Southeastern Iowa representative for Jazz Band Affairs. He is also the coordinator of the SEIBA Jazz Festival. His professional affiliations include NAfME, NBA, IBA, and SEIBA. Mr. Nicholson  is currently pursuing his Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia.

Mr. Nicholson resides in Davenport, Iowa with his wife, Chelsea, a dance instructor at the Bettendorf Family Museum. They spend their free time with their four-year old miniature dachshund, Dash. 

Rebekah L. Fackler

Mrs. Rebekah L. Fackler serves as Associate Band Director at Davenport Central High School and Sudlow Intermediate School while also leading the 5th grade band at Madison Elementary School.

This will be Mrs. Fackler’s sixth year teaching. This will be her fourth year on staff at Davenport Central. Prior to her appointment at Davenport Central, Mrs. Fackler was the 7th - 12th grade music teacher at AlWood Middle-High School in Woodhull, IL. She has participated in numerous community bands in both Iowa and Illinois on oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, and tenor saxophone. Mrs. Fackler was a marching member of the River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps in 2019 where she performed on mellophone and was a Drum Corps International Open Class Finalist.  Mrs. Fackler also performed as a member of Chromium Winds in 2023 and was a Winter Guard International Winds Independent Open Class Bronze Medalist.  Mrs. Fackler was awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence in the spring of 2025.

Mrs. Fackler holds a Bachelors in Music Education Degree from Western Illinois University (WIU). While at WIU, she performed in different ensembles including concert band and orchestra on the oboe; jazz band, pep band, and marching band on the alto saxophone; and university band on the french horn and one year on mellophone in the marching band.  Mrs. Fackler is currently working towards her Masters in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL. 

Mrs. Fackler resides in Davenport Iowa with her husband Adam and their two cats, Luna and Chester, and crested gecko; Andarna. Mrs. Fackler is an avid board gamer and reader. If she has time, she would love to travel to more board game conventions around the country.