The Chicagoland Educators Orchestra will perform selections of new music submitted by exhibiting publishers.
Bryan Miller
- Biographical Information
For nearly a quarter century, Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Miller has been honored to serve our nation as Commander and Conductor of the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, the 566th Air Force Band, a National Medal of Arts recipient organization. Mission highlights included leading teams for two Southwest Asia and Africa deployments, Mount Rushmore’s Independence Day Celebration, Rockefeller Center Plaza’s Centennial of Flight Exposition, the Liberty Medal Ceremony at Independence Hall, performances honoring Apollo Astronauts, the Tuskegee Airmen, Gold Star Families, the Warrior Games, funeral memorial honors for President Ronald Reagan, and serving as a Liaison Officer for the Illinois National Guard’s COVID-19 Military Vaccination Augmentation Team mission.A career music educator, Bryan Miller served as Music Chair for Chicagoland’s national award-winning Leyden High Schools from 1994-2024. Thousands of music students enjoyed successes under his leadership. Concurrent appointments included Elmhurst University, VanderCook College, and NAfME's National Council of Music Program Leaders. He currently serves as Visiting Associate Professor and Director of Music Education for North Central College and as Brass Choir Director for the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra. He annually leads both the Concert Band and Orchestra New Music Sessions for the Midwest Clinic, the latter of which he founded in 2012. Guest conducting engagements include the United States Air Force Band, the Wheaton Municipal Band, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, ILMEA, ISYM, and numerous military, university, and community bands. A CYSO alumnus, he has served on its Board of Directors since 2002. He regularly serves as a presenter, conductor, or performer for NAfME, The Midwest Clinic, ILMEA, and mentoring conductors.An accomplished trumpet artist, he performed under Maestro Daniel Barenboim with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera brass sections for the Arnold Jacobs memorial tribute concert at Chicago Symphony Center. His brass quintet was a Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition semi-finalist. He is a NIU Jazz Ensemble alumnus and founding member of Chicagoland’s renown Pete Ellman Big Band.
Frank Lestina has degrees from Roosevelt University and the University of Illinois. He taught orchestra in Illinois for 33 years including Danville, Libertyville, and Vernon Hills. The LHS Orchestra performed at the Midwest Clinic in 1991 and again in 1996. VHHS opened in the fall of 2000 with Mr. Lestina as Fine Arts Supervisor and Orchestra Director. The string enrollment grew to 150 students in three orchestras in the first ten years. The VHHS Symphony Orchestra performed at the Midwest Clinic in 2009. Mr. Lestina retired in 2013 and currently serves as adjunct faculty at DePaul University and VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. In addition, Mr. Lestina currently serves on the Advisory Board of The Midwest Clinic and moderates the New Music Reading Session for Orchestra. Mr. Lestina served as interim Director of Programming for the 2019 Midwest Clinic. Mr. Lestina is a member of American String Teachers Association and was very active in the Illinois Music Educators Association where he served on the ILMEA State Board as the District 7 President for two terms. Mr. Lestina is very active as a guest conductor and clinician. He enjoys arranging and adapting music for string and full orchestra. Mr. Lestina conducted the ILMEA All-State Orchestra for the 2014 Conference in Peoria, Illinois. In 2018, Mr. Lestina was awarded an honorary Doctorate from VanderCook College of Music for his contributions to music education.