CHRIS GLEASON

Chris Gleason is the Art and Creativity Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. He recently concluded twenty-five years as an instrumental music educator in East Troy, LaCrosse, and most recently Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He is the 2017 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, 2017 and 2022 semi-finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award and the first Wisconsin teacher to be named a finalist for National Teacher of the Year in 50 years. He was recently selected as one of five educators for the prestigious 2022 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence by the NEA Foundation as well as a Top 50 Finalist for the 2021 Global Teacher Prize sponsored by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO. Mr. Gleason was selected from 8,000 nominations from 121 countries around the world. He was recently honored with the Wisconsin Badger’s Outstanding Educators Award and the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award from his alma mater, UW-Eau Claire where he earned his BME degree in 1997. Gleason earned his Masters Degree from UW-LaCrosse in 2002 and is a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician.

Mr. Gleason’s bands have performed at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda, the “New Wisconsin Promise Conference”, and the 2006 and 2009 Wisconsin State Music Conferences. The Patrick Marsh Middle School Band has commissioned composers in its ComMission Possible Project such as Samuel R. Hazo (Blue and Green Music -2009), Brian Balmages (Sun Cycles – 2012), Michael Sweeney (Particles – 2013), Erik Morales (One Giant Leap – 2014), John Mackey (Lightning Field – 2015), Alex Shapiro (Rock Music- 2016), Brian Balmages (Twittering Machine – 2017), Andrew Boysen Jr (Tales of the Headless Horseman – 2018), Michael Markowski (Drawing Mars – 2019), Erika Svanoe (A Journey In Time – 2022), Viet Cuong (Inland Oceans -2023), Kelijah Dunton (Master Of My Fate -2023). In 2024 he will commission four composers – Jodie Blackshaw (band), Brian Balmages (band), Alysia Lee (choir), and Jessica Meyer (orchestra).

In 1992 Mr. Gleason was selected as the Wisconsin Governor’s Scholar to Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. Mr. Gleason has performed professionally at Disneyland, Valleyfair, and the Mall of America. He has been guest conductor of numerous camps and festivals including the Music For All National Band Camp, Tarleton Invitational Band Festival (Texas), National Band Association –Wisconsin Chapter Junior High All-State Band, Tri-State Honors Band, UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic, UW-Milwaukee Honors Band, UW-Whitewater Band Camp and numerous regional honor bands across Wisconsin, California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota and Mississippi. 

He is the chair-elect of the Wisconsin Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP) Committee, the past chair of the Wisconsin State Middle Level Honors Band and the Wisconsin State Middle Level Honors Project. He has taught workshops at VanderCook College of Music, the Los Angeles Unified School District in California, The NAfME National In-Service Conference, numerous school districts in the Midwest, and Hong Kong. He has presented clinics at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic as well as the Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin State Music Conventions.

In 2020, he was selected for the Music for All’s Advocacy in Action Award as well as the 2019 “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” School Band and Orchestra Magazine Award. He has also been recognized with the UW-La Crosse Distinguished Alumni Award (2017), Melvin F. Pontious Sparks in Music Education Award (2016), Michael G. George Distinguished Service Award (2016) and the Vi Miller Award for Excellence (2013) by Dane Arts and has been featured in the March 2015 Instrumentalist Magazine, and books: Think Like Socrates: Using Questions to Invite Wonder and Empathy Into the Classroom (Shanna Peeples, 2018) and Rehearsing the Middle School Band (Stephen Meyer, 2018). He was a 2018 National LifeChanger of the Year Award nominee. Mr. Gleason is the founder and organizer of the Beyond The Notes Music Festival Inc. in Wisconsin Dells which has to date inspired more than 44,000 young musicians and 85 future music educators.  

In 2017, Mr. Gleason also held a position as Engagement Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction delivering presentations at universities, school districts and conferences across Wisconsin. Mr. Gleason also assisted TED-Ed with the development and launch of an online course that teaches educators how to identify, record and share their ideas in the form of short, TED-style talks. Mr. Gleason recently presented his own talk at 2019 TEDxOshkosh entitled, “Lighting a Fire in Kids”. He has worked with Teach Plus in a national effort to support Title II funding as well as preventing gun violence in U.S. schools.  Mr. Gleason was selected as a 2018-19 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow and recently traveled to South Africa. He currently serves as a mentor on the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship Team and as an Advisor for the NEA Foundation.. Mr. Gleason is a representative for the Sun Prairie Education Association and a member of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), National Band Association (NBA), Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), National Educators Association (NEA), Wisconsin Educators Association Council (WEAC), Wisconsin Teachers of the Year Network (WTOYN), Wisconsin Bandmasters Association (WBA) and the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY).

JUDITH E. GRIMES

Professor Judith E. Grimes is presently an Emeritus Professor of Music at Elmhurst University in the Chicagoland area, where she still guest lectures and (before Covid) taught a J-Term course entitled, “Educational Experiences in Jamaica.” The Wind Ensemble, under her direction, performed several times in Orchestra Hall and at the Illinois Music Educators State Conference.

Professor Grimes is an active clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, conducting honor and clinic bands recently in Illinois, Indiana, California, Georgia, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and South Carolina. Professor Grimes continues to conduct the Western Jamaica International Music Festival, and she headlines conducting and performance clinics in Jamaica each year.

Professor Grimes officially retired in 2016 after teaching full time for 47 years, publishing over 200 articles, and guest conducting in France, England, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Wales, Jamaica, Japan, Australia, Canada and 28 states. She is the past President of the Women Band Directors International and the Women Band Directors National Association, and the founder of several band programs in schools in Jamaica.

Judy is the recipient of the ”Chicagoland Music Educator of the Year Award,” presented by Quinlan and Fabish Music; “President’s Excellence in Teaching Award,” presented by Elmhurst University; “Distinguished Music Educator of the Year,” presented by the Illinois Music Educators Association; “The Golden Rose Award,” presented by Women Band Director’s International. Prior to Elmhurst University, Judy was a Professor of Music at Indiana State University, where she was awarded the prestigious “Caleb Mills Outstanding Teacher Award,” and the Rose Hulman University “Excellence in Teaching Award.” Most recently, Professor Grimes was inducted into her hometown Hall of Fame at Danville High School, Danville, Indiana. During 2018, she was also inducted into the Women Band Directors International HALL OF FAME.

A couple of Judy’s favorite honors are: the Keys to Montego Bay Jamaica, having a chair in the recital hall named in her honor at Indiana State University, May 9th is the official “Judy Grimes Day” in Elmhurst, Illinois, and the concert band commissioned work titled, “To Indomitable Spirit,” written by John Robert Matz and presented as a surprise during her final official concert.

Professor Grimes has two children: Gina (Director of Theater Overton High School) and Brandon (US Government). She also has five grandchildren: Sidney (guitar, vocals, song writer), Devin (trombone and business), Gill (tuba and electric bass), Gracie (jazz and classical piano), and Cash (piano, percussion, theater). Judy has two dogs, Rozie and Teddy (vocals).

DR. SHELLEY JAGOW // WEBSITE

Dr. Shelley Jagow is Professor of Music at Wright State University School of Music (Dayton, OH) where she serves as Director of Bands conducting both the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, and teaches conducting at the undergraduate and graduate level. She earned top honors in Music Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) and the University of Missouri (Columbia) where respective mentors include Marvin Eckroth, Dale Lonis, Martin Bergee and Wendy Sims. She earned her Ph. D. in Music Education at the Union Institute & University (Cincinnati) where Colonel Timothy Foley, Frank Battisti, and Edward Wingard served as her mentors. In addition to studies in education, saxophone and conducting, Shelley earned the Certificate in Piano Performance IX from the Royal Conservatory of Music, and was previously nominated for both the “Robert J. Kegerreis Distinguished Professor of Teaching” Award and the “Brage Golding Distinguished Professor of Research” Award.

As an artist clinician with Conn-Selmer, Vandoren, Meredith Music, and GIA Music, “Dr. J” enjoys working with school bands and presents clinics, performances, adjudications, and serves as honor band conductor at various state, national and international conferences and events. Venues include locations in various states/provinces/countries: Alberta, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Italy, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Rhode Island, Saskatchewan, Scotland, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington D.C.; including conferences such as State Music Educators Conferences, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), the International Society for Music Education (ISME), the College Music Symposium (CMS), the World Saxophone Congress, and the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium.

Shelley previously served as coach for the WSU student Avion Saxophone Quartet, which can be heard on Apple Music/iTunes. All members of the quartet are chosen annually on a highly selective audition process, and include music education and/or performance majors at Wright State University. The Avion Saxophone Quartet is a recipient of the Edgar Hardy Scholarship, the Dayton Chamber Music Society Scholarship, the Chamber Music Institute Fellowship, and the Wright State University Presidential Commendation for Excellence. The quartet has commissioned and premiered works from national composers all across the world. The group performs a diverse musical repertory and is often invited to perform at school, community, and professional events including the Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) State Conference, the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) conferences, the International Society for Music Education (ISME), the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, and the World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland. The Quartet has performed throughout the United States in Connecticut, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington D.C. International performance tours include Japan, Italy and Scotland. Shelley herself can be heard performing on the Emeritus Recording label, on National Public Radio Performance Today, and America’s Millennium Tribute to ADOLPHE SAX, Volume XI by Arizona University Recordings.

Shelley is a regular contributing author to both The Music Director’s Cookbook (Meredith Music), and the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series (GIA Music). She is also the author of the book and DVD Teaching Instrumental Music: Developing the Complete Band Program (2nd edition) (Meredith Music)—a resource rapidly becoming the adopted textbook for music education degree study across the United States and Canada. Her most recent publications include Tuning for Wind Instruments: A Roadmap to Successful Intonation (Meredith Music), Intermediate Studies for Developing Artists on the Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone and Bassoon (Meredith Music), and The Londeix Lectures a 13+ hours DVD set archiving the historical music lectures of Professor Jean-Marie Londeix (and translated by William Street, University of Alberta). Growing up riding horses and helping on the farm in her native Saskatchewan (Canada), Shelley continues to enjoy the outdoors, gardening, exploring independent craft breweries, and sharing a love for all animals.

MIKE MILLER

Mike Miller is a graduate of the University of Illinois (B.M.E.) and Northwestern University (M.M.E.). Mr. Miller has taught every level of music student from 4th grade through college in his teaching career, most recently serving as Director of Bands at Field Middle School in Northbrook, Illinois. Under his direction the Field Wind Ensemble performed at the University of Illinois Superstate Festival each year from 2012-23, being selected as the Junior High Honors Band in 2018 and 2023. The Wind Ensemble was also awarded a Superior Rating with High Honors from the Illinois Grade School Music Association State Band Contest in 2018, 2022 and 2023.
Mr. Miller currently works at Northwestern University as a Student Teaching Supervisor in their Music Education program and is a member of the National Band Association, National Association for Music Education and the Illinois Music Educators’ Association.
He is a recipient of multiple Citations of Excellence awards from the National Band Association and enjoys serving as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator within the Chicagoland Area. When he is not making music he can be found on his bicycle or in his garden where he breeds ornamental plants, holding a patent for one of his hybrids with five others in trials in Europe and the USA.

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.

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 5th 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 serves as an adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst University, where he directs 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 Dals 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.

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.

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.