CHIP DE STEFANO

Chip De Stefano received both his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and Master of Music Education Degrees from Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, he studied conducting with John P. Paynter, Steve Peterson, and Don Owens, trombone with Frank Crisafulli and Art Linsner, and music education with Bennett Reimer, Donald Casey, Jim Kjelland, and Peter Webster. Mr. De Stefano was director of the Northwestern University Basketball Band (1994-1996) and the University Jazz Lab Band (1995-1996). In addition to these responsibilities, he assisted with all the office of band’s performing organizations and had conducting appearances with the wind ensemble, symphonic band, trombone ensemble, and marching band.

Mr. De Stefano became Director of Bands at McCracken Middle School in Skokie, Illinois in 1996. Under his direction, the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band has received first division ratings at all district and state organization contests of the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) and has made multiple appearances at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Conference, University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, and NAfME North Central Division Conference. In 2006 and 2013 the Symphonic Band received an invitation to present at concert at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. In the Spring of 2007, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the McCracken Symphonic Band the prestigious Sudler Silver Cup.

As a published arranger and composer, Mr. De Stefano has received commissions from the marching bands of Northwestern University, Samford University, the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, the University of Idaho and dozens of high schools from across the United States. His works have been performed on ABC’s 1996 Rose Bowl Halftime Show, Live! with Regis and Kathy Lee, and WBBM News Radio 780. Mr. De Stefano’s works are available from FJH Music, LudwigMasters Publications, Grand Mesa Music, Kagarice Brass Editions and DeStefanoMusic.com.

Mr. De Stefano’s professional affiliations include the Illinois Music Education Association, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In 2022 he was recently honored with membership in the American Bandmasters Association.

Mr. De Stefano is active nationally as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. He’s conducted honor bands, festivals and camps in Singapore, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan (scheduled), Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and throughout Illinois. In addition, he has presented conference sessions at the Midwest Clinic, ILMEA All-State Conference, Iowa Bandmasters Conference, Nebraska Music Educators Association State Conference, New England Band Director Instituted, Arkansas Tech University Band Director Workshop, NBA/IGSMA Band Director Workshop, Illinois State University Band Director Workshop and DuPage County Music Clinic. Mr. De Stefano is a recipient of twenty National Band Association Citations of Excellence. He was awarded the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2001, the IGSMA Barbara Buehlmann Young Conductor Award in 2004, the IGSMA Cloyd Meyers Memorial Award in 2011, and the Skokie Award for Artistic Excellence in 2016.

ROBERT HERRINGS

Robert Tyrome Herrings, III is in his twenty-first year of teaching and has been teaching in Leander ISD since 2004. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands at Vista Ridge High School, he was the Director of Bands at Artie Henry Middle School.

In 2003, Mr. Herrings received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he studied under Michael Haithcock, Jeff Grogan, Dr. Kevin Sedatole and Barry Hopper. While in college, Mr. Herrings was a member of the Baylor University performing wind bands, as well as a member of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.

During his twenty years at Artie Henry Middle School, the Henry Middle School Honors Band was selected to perform at the 2008 and 2013 Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. The program was named the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2024 TMEA Class CCC Honor Band and was also selected to perform at the 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2022 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In June 2011, Mr. Herrings and the program were awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, and in July of the same year, Mr. Herrings was named the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year. In May of 2014, the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association awarded the Outstanding Band Program Award to the Artie Henry MS Band Program, and in November of the same year, the Henry MS Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2018, the Henry MS Band Program was selected as the Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Middle School Band Award winner. Most recently, the program at Henry MS was named the National Band Association’s Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Band Award winner.

An active clinician and adjudicator around the state, Mr. Herrings is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, American Bandmasters Association as well as an educational consultant for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education. Mr. Herrings also serves as the Vice President of Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter, TMEA Region 32 Band Division Vice President, as well as the Region 32 TBA representative.

Mr. Herrings enjoys motivating young musicians to achieve the highest level of performance by sharing his extreme love and passion for music with them on a daily basis. He feels honored, privileged and extremely blessed to have a loving mother and grandmother, many great mentors, band directors and close friends who have influenced his career thus far.

Above all, his students have been his greatest inspiration!

DR. ANTHONY MARINELLO

Dr. Anthony C. Marinello, III serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Illinois State University where he is the conductor and music director of the Illinois State University Wind Symphony. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the wind band program, he leads the graduate program in wind conducting and teaches undergraduate courses in instrumental conducting.

As conductor of the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Dr. Marinello has collaborated with numerous esteemed colleagues and composers including William Bolcom, Steven Bryant, Donald Grantham, and Chen Yi. He is also active in the commissioning and performing new works for wind band including a recent commission, world premiere, and subsequent recording of Come Sunday for wind ensemble by composer Omar Thomas.

He joined the faculty at Illinois State University after serving at The University of Texas at Austin as the Assistant Director of the Longhorn Band and Director of the Longhorn Pep Band. Prior to his appointment at The University of Texas, Marinello served on the faculty of Virginia Tech as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands. Marinello has previously taught in the public schools of Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas and remains committed to serving the music education community as an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.

Dr. Marinello has been inducted into Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. At Illinois State University, he has received numerous awards including the Illinois State University Service Initiative Award, the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts (WKCFA) Teaching Initiative Award, the WKCFA Service Initiative Award, the WKCFA Research Initiative Award, and the Illinois State University New Faculty Start-up Award.

Dr. Marinello holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Marinello earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University, the Master of Music Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

KEITH OZSVATH

Keith Ozsvath is a music educator at Rotolo Middle School in Batavia, Illinois where he directs the 7th and 8th Grade Bands, the Jazz Ensemble, and the Small Ensemble Club. He also serves as the school’s Fine Arts Coordinator and Activities Director, supporting more than thirty student clubs and organizations. Rotolo and the Batavia community are consistently recognized as a NAMM Best Community for Music Education.

Keith teaches graduate and continuing education courses at VanderCook College of Music, where he serves as a course designer and instructor focused on practical, high-impact professional development. He is a frequent clinician and conductor, working primarily with middle school groups across the Midwest. Keith is also Division Coordinator of the Middle School & High School Concert Band Camps at the Bands of America Summer Camp held at Ball State University.

Keith is a frequent presenter on topics including integrating technology in music education, middle school band repertoire, and trombone pedagogy. His educational articles have been published by Yamaha and Music for All, and he has presented sessions at The Midwest Clinic, Georgia Music Educators Association, Virginia Music Educators Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, and the Illinois Music Educators Conference.

He is recognized as a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator, VFW Distinguished Educator, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and inducted into the Nazareth Academy High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame.

Keith maintains the Teaching Music & More website and is the founder of the Middle School Band Newsletter, a monthly resource dedicated to supporting and inspiring middle school band directors nationwide.

CINDY SEVERINO

Cindy Severino is the retired band director from Cooper Middle School in Buffalo Grove, where she led a distinguished 27-year career dedicated to musical excellence and student growth. A proud graduate of Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Music Education and Concordia University with a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration, Mrs. Severino brought both artistic passion and strong leadership to her work in music education.

She began her teaching career at Westfield Middle School in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, spending nine years shaping young musicians before joining Cooper Middle School. In addition to directing Cooper’s award-winning band program, she served for ten years as the district’s instrumental coordinator, guiding music education initiatives across the district.

Under her direction, the Cooper Middle School Band earned widespread acclaim, performing at premier events such as Superstate, the ISU Band Festival (Grand Champions), the Prairie State Band Festival, IGSMA, NIMCon (multiple perfect scores), the Buffalo Grove Band Festival, and Music in the Parks.

The Cooper Jazz Band 1, also under her leadership, consistently took first place and received top honors at Jazz in the Meadows, the North Shore Jazz Festival, Mundelein Jazz Festival, IGSMA, NIMCon, and Music in the Parks.

Mrs. Severino is a three-time recipient of the Winthrop Harbor Teacher of the Year award and has been honored with the Chicagoland Outstanding Educator Award. She remains active in the music education community as a clinician, adjudicator, and private lesson instructor throughout the Chicagoland area.

Outside of music, she enjoys golfing with her husband Bill, taking long walks and playing with their three golden retrievers, and staying sharp with the latest video games.

KEVIN LEPPER

Kevin Lepper is Professor Emeritus for VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Lepper is an active free-lance percussionist/educator in the Chicago area. A wide range of experiences, including El Paso Symphony, Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, The Chautauqua Ensemble (world music), That Memorial Ragtime Marimba Band, and many commercial recording sessions, allow Mr. Lepper to be classified as a “total percussionist”. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha fraternity and has numerous published works in the marching band medium. Through his company (Advantage Network) he has published a series of educationally-based percussion ensembles and three volumes of Boomwhackers ensembles written specifically for the junior high school and beginning high school performer. Kevin Lepper is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

ERIC MORONG

Eric Morong received his Bachelor’s Degree in music education from Elmhurst University, graduating Magna Cum Laude as an Honors Program Member. He earned his Master’s Degree in music education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL. Mr. Morong is in his 8th year teaching middle school band at Clarendon Hills Middle School in Community Consolidated School District 181. Prior to his position at CCSD181, he served as band director at Wood Dale School District 7 for 8 years. Mr. Morong also served as an adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst University for 15 years, where he directed the Varsity Band; an ensemble designed for music education majors to gain experience playing secondary instruments in a lab-setting. He holds memberships in the National Association of Music Education, the Illinois Music Education Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.

Under Mr. Morong’s direction, the Wood Dale Junior High School Symphonic Band and Jazz Bands have received first division ratings at all district and state organization contests of the Illinois Music Grade School Association. In 2017 and 2018, the Wood Dale JHS Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the University of Illinois SuperState Band Festival in Champaign-Urbana. In 2017 and 2018 the Wood Dale JHS Symphonic Band received High Honors awards at the IGSMA State Festivals (perfect scores from all 3 judges). The Wood Dale JHS Jazz Band performed at the Illinois Music Educators’ Conference in 2018; the only middle school jazz ensemble to perform at the state conference. Eric Morong was chosen by the IGSMA members to receive the Barbara Buehlman Young Conductor Award in 2017. In 2021, he was awarded the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award from Quinlan & Fabish. In 2023, the Clarendon Hills Middle School 8th Grade Band was selected to perform at the SuperState Band Festival.

Most recently, Mr. Morong was selected for a 2024 Those Who Excel & Teacher Of The Year Award from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Mr. Morong is a recipient of multiple Citations of Excellence awards from the National Band Association. He enjoys serving as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator within the Chicagoland Area. He also performs as a core member in the percussion section of the Chicago Wind Symphony.

BEN WAHLUND

Ben Wahlund is a Grammy-nominated music educator, composer, and performer who serves as full-time percussion instructor at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL) and the Director of Percussion at the College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL) where he was awarded the College-Wide Outstanding Faculty Award.

Mr. Wahlund’s engaging teaching style has availed him of the opportunity to work for years with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra as percussion ensemble director, director of a number of high school regional camps and workshops, and university residencies across the country.

His music compositions have won numerous international awards and are performed by professionals around the world. His works are distributed by C. Alan, Musicon, Bachovich, and HoneyRock Publications.

Mr. Wahlund has performed a number of times at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, state music educator association conferences, and schools across the country. He has been awarded and served long-term artist residencies on the island of Key West, Florida, the Montello Foundation Residency in the desert of Nevada, and Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Ben Wahlund received his Masters of Music degree in music theory/composition and Performance Certificate in percussion from Northern Illinois University and Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Education and Music Performance with minors in math and philosophy/theology from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Mr. Wahlund is a member of the Yamaha Performing Artist roster, the Zildjian Artist Program, and endorses Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.