Band Faculty
Mr. Kevin T. Carroll
630.375.3271
[email protected]
Kevin Carroll has been a proud member of the WVHS Music Department since the fall semester of 2014. He came to us from a distinguished career of twenty-two years at Joliet West High School where he served as director of bands. Mr. Carroll and his former band program have won numerous awards and honors not only in the State of Illinois, but also throughout the nation. Some of those distinctions include earning seven invitations to the University of Illinois' prestigious Superstate Concert Band Festival, fifteen times winning their class at the Illinois State University Concert Band Invitational, as well as earning an invitation to perform at the ILMEA All-State Convention held in Peoria, IL. Mr. Carroll's marching and jazz ensembles have also won numerous awards and accolades throughout the nation.
Kevin Carroll is a saxophonist and a 1992 graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a B.S. in Music Education. In 1997, he earned his M.A. in Music Education from the VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, IL. Mr. Carroll has been named a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator in 2002, and in 2013 was one of ten educators to win a Golden Apple Fellowship from over six hundred applicants. Mr. Carroll has also earned several National Band Citation Awards throughout his career. In addition, Kevin Carroll has served as the ILMEA District Band Representative for District 1 for four years. Mr. Carroll is consistently in demand as an adjudicator and clinician for bands throughout Illinois. Mr. Carroll currently lives in Naperville, IL with his spouse Nicholas Davis, their son Jackson and their dog Nessa.
630.375.3271
[email protected]
Kevin Carroll has been a proud member of the WVHS Music Department since the fall semester of 2014. He came to us from a distinguished career of twenty-two years at Joliet West High School where he served as director of bands. Mr. Carroll and his former band program have won numerous awards and honors not only in the State of Illinois, but also throughout the nation. Some of those distinctions include earning seven invitations to the University of Illinois' prestigious Superstate Concert Band Festival, fifteen times winning their class at the Illinois State University Concert Band Invitational, as well as earning an invitation to perform at the ILMEA All-State Convention held in Peoria, IL. Mr. Carroll's marching and jazz ensembles have also won numerous awards and accolades throughout the nation.
Kevin Carroll is a saxophonist and a 1992 graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a B.S. in Music Education. In 1997, he earned his M.A. in Music Education from the VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, IL. Mr. Carroll has been named a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator in 2002, and in 2013 was one of ten educators to win a Golden Apple Fellowship from over six hundred applicants. Mr. Carroll has also earned several National Band Citation Awards throughout his career. In addition, Kevin Carroll has served as the ILMEA District Band Representative for District 1 for four years. Mr. Carroll is consistently in demand as an adjudicator and clinician for bands throughout Illinois. Mr. Carroll currently lives in Naperville, IL with his spouse Nicholas Davis, their son Jackson and their dog Nessa.
Mr. Chris Dandeles
630.375.3300 x55682
[email protected]
Chris Dandeles has been a member of the Waubonsie Valley High School Music Faculty since 2003. Prior to teaching at Waubonsie Valley, he was Director of Bands at Timothy Christian School in Elmhurst, IL. Mr. Dandeles earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and his Master's Degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University.
Mr. Dandeles currently directs the Waubonsie Valley Symphonic Band, co-directs the Warrior Pep Band, and assists with the Waubonsie Valley Marching Warriors. He is also the director of the Waubonsie Valley Percussion Ensemble and World Beat, which he founded in 2003. Since its inception, the WVHS Percussion Ensemble has performed at the VanderCook Day of Percussion, the Illinois Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion, the National Percussion Festival, Humboldt Community Christian School, the DuPage Children's Museum, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in addition to the Annual WVHS Spring Percussion Concert and Schlagzeugfest.
As a percussionist, Mr. Dandeles has promoted the advancement of percussion education throughout his career, with a focus on developing total-percussionists. He continues to perform in his school and community, especially as a member of the West-suburban quartet Rosewooden Carols. Mr. Dandeles is also active as a clinician, adjudicator, composer and consultant.
Mr. Dandeles lives in Aurora with his wife Amy, their daughter Annika, and son Henry.
630.375.3300 x55682
[email protected]
Chris Dandeles has been a member of the Waubonsie Valley High School Music Faculty since 2003. Prior to teaching at Waubonsie Valley, he was Director of Bands at Timothy Christian School in Elmhurst, IL. Mr. Dandeles earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and his Master's Degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University.
Mr. Dandeles currently directs the Waubonsie Valley Symphonic Band, co-directs the Warrior Pep Band, and assists with the Waubonsie Valley Marching Warriors. He is also the director of the Waubonsie Valley Percussion Ensemble and World Beat, which he founded in 2003. Since its inception, the WVHS Percussion Ensemble has performed at the VanderCook Day of Percussion, the Illinois Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion, the National Percussion Festival, Humboldt Community Christian School, the DuPage Children's Museum, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in addition to the Annual WVHS Spring Percussion Concert and Schlagzeugfest.
As a percussionist, Mr. Dandeles has promoted the advancement of percussion education throughout his career, with a focus on developing total-percussionists. He continues to perform in his school and community, especially as a member of the West-suburban quartet Rosewooden Carols. Mr. Dandeles is also active as a clinician, adjudicator, composer and consultant.
Mr. Dandeles lives in Aurora with his wife Amy, their daughter Annika, and son Henry.
Mr. Mark Duker
630.375.3266
[email protected]
Mark Duker began his teaching career at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, IL, where he taught from 1993-1997. Mark started the band programs at Still Middle School in 1999 as well as Scullen Middle School in 2001. After 10 years at Scullen, Mr. Duker moved to Neuqua Valley High School in 2011 and then in 2013 joined the faculty of Waubonsie Valley High School where he now serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair and conducts the Wind Ensemble.
Mark is a 1993 graduate of the University of Illinois, where he earned a degree in Music Education. In 1999, he graduated with honors from Indiana University with a Master of Music in Wind Conducting. Mark earned National Board Certification in 2003 and re-certified in 2013. He was named a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator in 2006. He has served as the Junior Jazz Representative for ILMEA District 9, the IGSMA District 9 Chair, and currently serves as the ILMEA Wind & Percussion Audition Chair. In September of 2013, Mr. Duker was named 1 of 25 national semifinalists for the inaugural GRAMMY Educator Award. He was also recognized as the Illinois PTA Teacher of the Year in 2024. Mark lives in Naperville with his wife Jen, a band director in West Aurora District 129, and their children Maddie and Josh.
630.375.3266
[email protected]
Mark Duker began his teaching career at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, IL, where he taught from 1993-1997. Mark started the band programs at Still Middle School in 1999 as well as Scullen Middle School in 2001. After 10 years at Scullen, Mr. Duker moved to Neuqua Valley High School in 2011 and then in 2013 joined the faculty of Waubonsie Valley High School where he now serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair and conducts the Wind Ensemble.
Mark is a 1993 graduate of the University of Illinois, where he earned a degree in Music Education. In 1999, he graduated with honors from Indiana University with a Master of Music in Wind Conducting. Mark earned National Board Certification in 2003 and re-certified in 2013. He was named a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator in 2006. He has served as the Junior Jazz Representative for ILMEA District 9, the IGSMA District 9 Chair, and currently serves as the ILMEA Wind & Percussion Audition Chair. In September of 2013, Mr. Duker was named 1 of 25 national semifinalists for the inaugural GRAMMY Educator Award. He was also recognized as the Illinois PTA Teacher of the Year in 2024. Mark lives in Naperville with his wife Jen, a band director in West Aurora District 129, and their children Maddie and Josh.
Mr. James Hairston
Joining WV Bands in the Fall of 2025
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Mr. Hairston earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and a Master’s degree in Saxophone Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, he performed as a member of the Texas Saxophone Ensemble and the UT Wind Ensemble.
Mr. Hairston is currently the Director of Bands at Robert E. Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, Texas. Under his direction, the Hawk Band has consistently earned UIL Sweepstakes Awards in both marching and concert band contests. The Hendrickson Marching Band has been a UIL State Marching Band Finalist in 2021, 2023 and 2024 and gained national recognition as a Bands of America Grand National Finalist in 2022.
Prior to his time at Hendrickson, Mr. Hairston served as Director of Bands at Lamar Middle School & Fine Arts Academy in Austin, Texas. During his tenure, the Jazz Ensemble was invited to perform at the 69th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, and the 8th Annual Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Additionally, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the 71st Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Mr. Hairston’s professional affiliations include the Midwest Clinic, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Jazz Education Network. Through his leadership, passion for music, and dedication to student success, Mr. Hairston continues to inspire excellence in music education.
Joining WV Bands in the Fall of 2025
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Mr. Hairston earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and a Master’s degree in Saxophone Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, he performed as a member of the Texas Saxophone Ensemble and the UT Wind Ensemble.
Mr. Hairston is currently the Director of Bands at Robert E. Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, Texas. Under his direction, the Hawk Band has consistently earned UIL Sweepstakes Awards in both marching and concert band contests. The Hendrickson Marching Band has been a UIL State Marching Band Finalist in 2021, 2023 and 2024 and gained national recognition as a Bands of America Grand National Finalist in 2022.
Prior to his time at Hendrickson, Mr. Hairston served as Director of Bands at Lamar Middle School & Fine Arts Academy in Austin, Texas. During his tenure, the Jazz Ensemble was invited to perform at the 69th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, and the 8th Annual Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Additionally, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the 71st Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Mr. Hairston’s professional affiliations include the Midwest Clinic, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Jazz Education Network. Through his leadership, passion for music, and dedication to student success, Mr. Hairston continues to inspire excellence in music education.