NCHS BANDS - Key Persons
Mr. Alstadt conducts and shares the program with Mr. Brandon Estes. He also leads the Jazz Studio Orchestra and collaborates with all areas of the program with a team approach. Awards include: Western Illinois University ‘Distinguished Alumni of the College of Fine Arts and Communications,' ‘Outstanding Chicagoland Music Educator,' ‘Conn Selmer VIP Music Educator' ‘Office Max Innovative Teacher of the Year.' Mr. Alstadt received "Distinguished Music Alumni Of the Year" from Western Illinois University, the first recipient of this award. Mr. Alstadt was also profiled and listed among "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" in ‘School Band and Orchestra Magazine.' He was a cover story on ‘Drum Corps International.' Mr. Alstadt's extensive background in marching band comes from intensive tours with two champion DCI corps: The Cadets and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. As a member of The Cadets, he performed in the closing ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia; as a Cavalier, he participated in their first World Championship season. He has been a multiple guest clinician for the District IX Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) Jazz in districts across our state.
He has served as the Benedictine University Concert Band Conductor, multiple tours Jazz Artistic Director for the Illinois Ambassadors of Music, and recently on the concert band faculty. He has served in sabbatical roles for the North Central College Wind Ensemble. He is a member of the Chicago Educators Orchestra and has performed with the Illinois Brass Band and many Jazz Bands throughout the Chicagoland area. He remains an active student of the instrument.
The Grammy Foundation has issued multiple citations of excellence for the NCHS Music Program. The Wind Ensemble has performed at the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Convention. The Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Studio Orchestra) has been a multiple-featured performer at the Illinois Music Educators Conference. The ensembles have been bands within our state and far from her borders. Alumni include professional musicians in our nation's finest orchestras, military music careers, freelance performers, music therapists, ethnomusicologists, and recording engineers. Great people come from the band at Naperville Central High School!
Additionally, Mr. Alstadt received his B.A. in Music Education from Western Illinois University and his Master's Degree from Vandercook College of Music and is a National Board Certified Teacher/. He has studied trumpet with Dr. Bruce Briney, Rick Leister, Doug Sharf, Dr. Leah Schumann, and most recently Dr. Mark Ponzo and conducting mentors Dr. Jon Dugle and Dr. Charles Menghini. He is most proud to serve on the strong team of Naperville District 203 and considers it a privilege to serve the students and community of Naperville Central High School.
Job Titles:
- Co - Band Director
- Co - Director of Bands at Naperville Central High School
Brandon Estes, Co-Director of Bands at Naperville Central High School, is an active educator, clinician, and adjudicator throughout Illinois and Texas. In sharing the program with colleague, DJ Alstadt, his responsibilities include Head Director of the Marching Redhawks, Co-teaching 3 curricular concert bands, Co-Director of the NCHS Drumshow Percussion Ensemble, director of Jazz Band, the intermediate level jazz ensemble, and instructor for the Music Production classes.
A native of Houston, Texas, Mr. Estes holds a B.M. in Music Education from Texas State University-San Marcos where he studied percussion under Genaro Gonzalez, Tony Edwards, and John Lopez. He earned his M.M. in Music Performance from Northern Illinois University, where he was Graduate Percussion Assistant to Professor Robert Chappell and Dr. Gregory Beyer with further studies under Richard Holly, Liam Teague, Clifford Alexis, and Dr. Thomas Bough.
Mr. Estes' extensive drum corps performance experience includes membership with Pioneer and the Madison Scouts drum corps between 1998 and 2002. In 2005, he served as Co-Arranger and Percussion Caption Head of the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. As a rudimental performer, Brandon was a founding member of the Chicago Bulls Stampede Drumline (2007-2014) and is a former member of the Chicago Bears Drumline (2008 - 2022), in which he served as Director since 2011. In recent years, he continues to perform with Chicago's-own Rhythm Messengers Drumline with performance highlights including Kygo and Two Friends at Madison Square Garden.
Mr. Estes is a proud educational endorser of Promark and Evans under the D'Addario brand.
Job Titles:
- Department Secretary for Fine Arts
Mrs. Padmanabhan ("Mrs. P") manages and organizes the Fine Arts program at Naperville Central High School.