The Chicagoland Educators Orchestra will perform selections of new music submitted by exhibiting publishers.
Lt Col 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 received his B.M. Ed. from Roosevelt University and M. Ed. from the
University of Illinois. Mr.
Lestina started his teaching career in Danville, IL and in 1986, Mr. Lestina
accepted the Orchestra Director position in Libertyville,
IL. The Libertyville High School Symphony Orchestra was invited to
perform at the Midwest Clinic in 1991 and again in 1996. The LHS
Orchestras traveled extensively, including three tours to Europe. In the fall
of 2000, Mr. Lestina accepted the position of Fine Arts Supervisor and
Orchestra Director at the new school in D128, Vernon Hills High School. The
VHHS Orchestra performed at the 2004 IMEC and at the Midwest Clinic in 2009.
The VHHS Orchestras traveled to China in 2001, and three tours to Europe
including Spain, Italy and Prague/Austria. Mr. Lestina retired from Vernon
Hills High School in 2013 and currently serves as adjunct faculty at DePaul
University in Chicago. Mr.
Lestina is a member of ASTA and ILMEA serving two terms as ILMEA District 7
President. He
is active
as a clinician and adjudicator and has served as guest conductor for many of
the ILMEA District Orchestras. Mr. Lestina conducted the ILMEA All-State
Orchestra for the 2014 Conference and will be conducting the ILMEA Junior
Orchestra at the 2027 Conference in Peoria, Illinois.
In
May of 2018, Mr. Lestina was awarded an honorary Doctorate from VanderCook
College of Music for his contributions to music education.