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Chip De Stefano (Skokie, IL) is in his 29th year as Director of Bands at McCracken Middle School in Skokie, Illinois. Under his leadership, the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band has performed at several prestigious events, including the Illinois Music Education Conference, University of Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival (9 times selected as Honor Band), CBDNA-NBA North Central Division Conference, and NAfME North Central Division Conference. The band was invited to perform at the Midwest Clinic in 2006 and 2013 and received the Sudler Silver Cup from the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2006.
Mr. De Stefano’s professional affiliations include the Illinois Music Educators Association, Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA), the National Band Association (Board of Directors, Middle School Representative), All-Illinois Junior Band (Board of Directors), American School Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he was recently honored with membership in the American Bandmasters Association.
Nationally recognized as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, Mr. De Stefano has conducted honor bands, festivals, and camps in Singapore, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and throughout Illinois. He has presented conference sessions at the Midwest Clinic, ILMEA Music Education Conference, Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference, Nebraska MEA State Conference, New England Band Directors Institute, NBA/IGSMA Band Director Workshop, Illinois State University Band Director Workshop, and multiple webinars and online panels.
Mr. De Stefano has earned over 20 National Band Association Citations of Excellence and has received numerous awards, including the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award, the IGSMA Barbara Buehlmann Young Conductor Award, the IGSMA Cloyd Meyers Memorial Award, and the Skokie Award for Artistic Excellence.