Chris Vanderwall

My involvement at Naperville North High School is the longest running tenure of my career as an educator.  I was hired in 2004 (Junior year of college) in short order after having lost their marching percussion instructor, and I've been a solid member of their staff since.  The Marching Huskies have been atop the competitive marching band community throughout the decade that I have been a part of the activity, and have earned numerous high percussion awards under my instruction (along with Front Ensemble instructor Kay Moore).

While I never participated as a member of a DCI or WGI Ensemble, my students have gone on to march with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, Blue Coats, Glassmen, Colts, Pioneer, LeaP (now Evolution), Green Thunder Percussion, Pioneer Indoor, North Coast Academy, and Rhythm X. Many of those students have also gone on to participate in their respective collegiate marching bands with a great deal of success.  The drumline at Naperville North has always had a proud tradition of high achievement, and I've watched that foster a great deal of growth in the section.

I've learned a great deal about professionalism through working with the students and staff at Naperville North.  During my Senior year of college, my only available time for drumline sectionals came at 6:30 am (a time of the morning that doesn't "exist" in college...).  I made a commitment to the students, and they gave that commitment back in hard work and great performances.  Approaching Naperville North with a great deal of professionalism has been, I believe, the key to the long lasting relationship that I've grown to enjoy with them.