Clinician Detail

Chip De Stefano - Biographical Information

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 is currently in his 30th year as Director of Bands at McCracken Middle School in Skokie, Illinois. 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 Educators Association (ILMEA) All-State Conference, University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, CBDNA-NBA North Central Division Conference, and NAfME North Central Division Conference. In 2006 and 2013, the Symphonic Band received an invitation to present a concert at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. In December of 2006, 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 Kathie 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 has had chapters published in Foundations: The Fundamental Elements for Building a Successful Middle School Band Program, Teaching Music Through Performance in Middle School Band, and Whatsoever Things...The Life and Teachings of John P. Paynter, all published by GIA Publications. Chorales and Beyond, co-authored with Timothy Loest and Kevin Lepper, is published by FJH Music. His professional affiliations include the Illinois Music Educators Association, Illinois Grade School Music Association, 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. 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, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, 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 (2008, 2021, 2022, 2025), ILMEA Music Education Conference (2003, 2005, 2008, 2016), Iowa Bandmasters Conference (2010, 2024), Nebraska Music Educators Association State Conference (2011), New England Band Director Institute (2016), Arkansas Tech University Band Director Workshop (2013), NBA/IGSMA Band Director Workshop (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024), Illinois State University Band Director Workshop (2012, 2019), DuPage County Music Clinic (2009, 2014, 2021), and multiple webinars and online panels. Mr. De Stefano is a recipient of over 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.