ABOUT THE 815
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The 815 is dedicated to providing young musicians with the opportunity to perform on a real stage, accompanied by a live band and full sound production.
Musicians ages 5 through 21 are welcome to participate, regardless of their instrument, musical style, or experience level.
Participation is completely free of charge.
The program's goal is to teach young performers the essentials of live performance—from the importance of punctuality and rehearsal to the value of collaboration and building relationships with fellow musicians.
ABOUT THE HOUSE BAND
Caleb serves as a bassist for The 815 house band, and has been involved in the organization since its early years.
He toured as a member of the band Daniel’s Window, performing over 1,000 shows across the US. He is a guitarist, bass guitarist, keyboardist, and has even been known to sing on occasion. He is also a songwriter, and a former music educator.
He is educated in music, and additionally holds a BFA in Fine Art from The American Academy of Art in Chicago, IL. He works as an illustrator, and works for Lucasfilm, Marvel, DC, and many others.
CALEB KING
BASS
GARY LEVERICH
BASS
Gary joined The 815 in the 2023–2024 season after years of attending events as a proud music dad to his son, Vaughn. Inspired by the mission of The 815, he jumped in to serve a community he deeply believes in.
A 15-year veteran of the U.S. military, Gary served in both the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. His service took him around the world.
By day, Gary is an engineer working with MRI medical equipment. By night, he's a bass player, collector of music gear, and loving source of chaos to his endlessly patient wife. Music is a constant in their home, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
As for downtime? That’s a myth. If he’s not making music, he’s knee-deep in a project involving tools, grease, and something that probably should’ve been left untouched.
HEATHER KING
KEYS, EMCEE, MUSIC COORDINATOR
Heather joined The 815 as Music Coordinator during its early years and has been instrumental in shaping its creative vision.
She is the owner of Simply Music Studios, which offers music education and performance opportunities throughout Joliet, New Lenox, and the surrounding communities.
Heather spent nearly two decades performing over 1,000 live shows with their band, Daniel's Window. Her extensive stage experience fuels her passion for helping young performers grow in skill and confidence every time they step onto The 815 stage.
Heather is a fan of Starbucks, scary movies, Stephen King novels, and traveling. She lives in Joliet with her husband Caleb and their two children, Hayden and Lincoln.
MASON PARKER
GUITAR
Mason joined The 815 in 2021, after being introduced to the event by a longtime friend and quickly rose to become the band’s lead guitarist. A passionate musician, he spends much of his time practicing, teaching, and performing with his other projects, including Pariah—a groove metal band based up north—and The Olivia Minogue Band.
When he’s not shredding on stage, Mason enjoys video games, movies, concerts, and spending time with friends and family.
MITCHELL ELZINGA
GUITAR
Mitchell joined The 815 two years ago as a fill-in guitarist and quickly became a core member of the band, now contributing as a multi-instrumentalist.
Whether with The 815, in musical theater, or performing with his band, Mitchell is almost always on stage.
He plays bass alongside fellow 815 member Mason and Olivia Minogue (daughter of event coordinator Monica) in a band that gigs across the southwest suburbs and into Chicago. You can catch them live right here.
Outside of music, Mitchell enjoys rock climbing, video games, D&D, hiking, and hanging with his dog Bruno. A lover of all things fantasy, he lives in Woodridge with his girlfriend Nicki, Bruno, and Nicki’s guinea pigs, Poppy and Luna.
MONICA MINOGUE
EVENT COORDINATOR
Monica fell in love with theater after starring in a third-grade play and later studied it at Ball State University. In 2002, she founded StagePlay: Musical Theater for Kids!, a program offered through southwest suburban park districts.
In 2013, she launched a monthly showcase for young musicians called The Kidz Jam, which evolved into The 815 at The Forge in Joliet. For nearly 25 years, Monica has mentored young performers, often as a volunteer.
She lives in Lockport with her husband, Martin, and is mom to two grown children, including Olivia—a professional singer and The Voice (Season 24) alum who helped inspire The 815.
VAUGHN LEVERICH
GUITAR
Vaughn began performing at The 815 as a high school freshman, electric guitar in hand—and he’s rarely taken the stage without it since. His dedication and preparation quickly earned him a spot in The 815’s house band.
A self-taught guitarist of seven years and trained vocalist for five, Vaughn first took the stage at his sixth-grade talent show and hasn’t looked back. He proudly reminds others that The 815 welcomes all musicians, not just singers. His consistent presence even inspired his dad to join the band, too.
Vaughn is currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. In his free time, he enjoys concerts, board games, and hanging out with friends.