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ALUMNI

CHRIS VANDERWALL, Board President

Chris Vanderwall (BMEd '06) began his role at Plainfield Central High School in 2018. Prior to PCHS, Vanderwall was Director of Bands at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plainfield, IL. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree at VanderCook while studying percussion with Kevin Lepper, and earned a Master of Music Education degree at the University of Illinois in 2011. At Plainfield Central, Vanderwall’s responsibilities include teaching AP Music Theory, Music Production, directing the Wildcat Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Musical Pit Orchestra, and Percussion Ensembles in addition to co-directing the Symphonic Bands.

Vanderwall continues to maintain an active role in the music community. He served as the District IX Junior Level Band Representative for the Illinois Music Education Association, and subs on timpani with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. Vanderwall also maintains professional memberships with the Percussive Arts Society, National Band Association, and the National Association for Music Education, in addition to proudly endorsing innovative percussion and Etymotic Research ear protection.

STEVEN SANDERS, Immediate Past President

Steven Sanders (BMEd '09) graduated valedictorian from Vandercook College of Music in 2009. Upon graduation he immediately started teaching at UIC College Prep. In its sixth year, the UIC College Prep band program has grown to 250 members. Steven is responsible for the beginning, concert, honors and jazz bands. The bands have received awards from events such as the IHSA Music Organizational, the City of Chicago Band and Orchestra Festival, and the Berklee College of Music Jazz Festival. In May 2014, Steven was awarded the Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice. He was among four teachers (the first music teacher ever) to receive this national recognition. Steven remains grateful for the teaching profession and holds in high regard the opportunity he has to bring music to the lives of UIC College Prep students.

JOEL DEFAYETTE, President-Elect

RON PACHECO, Recording Secretary

JOHN ARMSTRONG

PATRICK BENSON

LAUREN ERICKSON

DENNIS HAYSLETT

KRISTIN KOTERBA

Kristin Koterba (MMEd '13) graduated from Kent State University with Bachelor of Music Education and Flute Performance degrees in 2005. Koterba taught elementary music and assisted with high school band for two years in South Carolina and taught middle school band, high school band, and coached varsity softball for seven years in Georgia. In 2013, she completed her master's degree at VanderCook and served as class president. Koterba then returned to Ohio to join the Shaker Heights Schools band staff where she student-taught with fellow VanderCook alumnus Tom Deep (‘94). In Shaker, Kristin primarily teaches beginning band at Woodbury Elementary School. Her other duties include working with the Shaker Heights High School Marching Band and assisting with their international trip planning to Spain (2016) and Italy (2019). Koterba also spent two summers teaching in Otwock, Poland, with the Teaching English in Poland Arts Focused Camp through the Kosciuszko Foundation. She began work on her Ph.D. in Music at Kent State University in 2017. Outside of teaching music, she serves as a team captain for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night event.