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.

DAN FARRIS

Daniel J. Farris is Director of Athletic Bands at Northwestern University, where he is responsible for conducting the “Wildcat” Marching Band and Concert Band, and teaching courses in conducting and music education. He has been the Assistant Conductor of the Northshore Concert Band since 2006. Mr. Farris holds degrees in Music Education from James Madison University and the University of Illinois.

Prior to moving to Northwestern, Mr. Farris served as Assistant Director of Bands at Illinois State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was also the Director of the Walt Disney World Collegiate All-Star Band in Orlando, FL, and taught in the public schools of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Bands under his direction have performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Bands of America Regional and National Championships, the Dublin, Ireland St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and numerous bowl games.

Mr. Farris has been an active clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada. He is a member of the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma/Kappa Kappa Psi, and serves as a faculty adviser of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Iota Chapter.

DR. ADAM KEHL

Dr. Adam Kehl serves as Director of Bands and an Associate Professor of Music at Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Illinois), where he conducts the Elmhurst Wind Ensemble, teaches conducting, and provides leadership for all facets of the university’s comprehensive band program. Previously, Dr. Kehl served as Associate Director of Bands at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, where he conducted the Symphonic Band and Fall Concert Band, directed the Rainbow Warrior Marching Band, and taught courses in music education. He also previously served as Director of Bands at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Kehl holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Percussion Performance from the University of Oregon, a Master of Music in conducting from the University of New Mexico, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the University of South Carolina. He previously served as a high school band director in the public schools of California and is highly active as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor for concert and marching bands around the United States.

Dr. Kehl maintains an active research agenda in two areas; his primary research focuses on the creation of historically accurate critical editions, for the purpose of modern performance, of wind music from the French Revolution. Four of his editions from composers Gossec, Catel, and Hyacinthe Jadin are published and available from Maxime’s Music (concertbandmusicstore.com), with additional editions scheduled to be published in the coming years. He frequently presents sessions at music education and conducting conferences across the United States on his secondary research interest, Laban Movement Analysis and its usage in conducting gesture development, score study, and ensemble rehearsals, as well as student leadership development and sessions aimed to help music education majors maximize their preparations for the field. Dr. Kehl has completed three musical tours abroad, including tours in China and Italy, and served as an Associate Producer on the USC Wind Ensemble’s critically acclaimed Bernstein: The Transcriptions for Wind Band for Naxos Records.

As a keen advocate for new music, media integration, creative programming, and inter-arts collaboration, some of Dr. Kehl’s notable projects include A Little Song and Dance, a collaboration with the Elon Dance Department, and Mozart in Popular Culture, an exploration of the use of Mozart’s Gran Partita in television and film. Dr. Kehl is actively involved in bringing new works to life through commissioning and conducting premieres, including works by Donald Grantham, Kevin Walczyk, David Clay Mettens, Carter Pann, Adrienne Albert, Todd Coleman, Ted King-Smith, David Kirkland Garner, Nick Omiccioli, Aaron Perrine and Tyler Ono, and has worked with such guests artists as Dr. David Constantine, Dr. Nave Graham, famed Hawaiian singers Willie K and Henry Kapono, Lynn and John Beck and Elon University President, Dr. Leo Lambert.

Dr. Kehl holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Band Association, and the Illinois Music Educators Association, with honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

ROBERT HERRINGS III

Robert Tyrome Herrings, III (Cedar Park, TX), is in his twenty-second year of teaching and has served in Leander ISD since 2004. He currently serves as Director of Bands at Vista Ridge High School, following a 20-year tenure as Director of Bands at Artie Henry Middle School. Herrings earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in 2003. During his time at Artie Henry Middle School, the Honors Band achieved national recognition, performing at the Western International Band Clinic in 2008 and 2013 and The Midwest Clinic in 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2022. The ensemble was named the TMEA Class CCC Honor Band in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2024. In 2011, the program received the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, and Herrings was named Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year. Additional honors include the ASBDA Outstanding Band Program Award (2014), the TBA Exemplary Middle School Band Award, and the National Band Association Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award (2018). The Henry M.S. Percussion Ensemble was also selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. 

Most recently, the Vista Ridge High School Band Program was invited to perform at The 2025 Midwest Clinic. An active clinician and adjudicator throughout Texas, Herrings is a member of TMEA, TBA, TMAA, and the American Bandmasters Association. He is President of the Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter, TMEA Region 32 Band Division Vice President, and Region 32 TBA Representative. Herrings is passionate about inspiring young musicians through excellence in music education and is deeply grateful for the support of his family, mentors, colleagues, and friends. Above all, his students remain his greatest inspiration.

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.