NICHOLAS ROTUNNO
Wheeling
Summary
Accomplished and well-rounded band educator looking to use my experiences and skills to motivate and elevate the next generation of young musicians.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Tenor Drummer
CHICAGO BEARS DRUMLINE
01.2015 - Current
- High-energy performance
- Original compositions for the group
- Lead contact for community performances
- Member of the 2018 NFL All-pro drumline
- Performed at the 2024 London Games in October 2024.
IHSA Percussion Judge
District 50 Schools
Harvard
03.2025 - 03.2025
- Critique high school students through various percussion ensembles and solos.
- Provide constructive and reasonable feedback in a short amount of time.
- Apply the teaching methods of kinesthetic learning and approaches to these students' music, so that they continue to work hard on it.
- Being focused on the task I am doing, but aware of the time I have left; in other words, time management is crucial to my success, and vice versa.
Drumline Instructor
ELMWOOD PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Elmwood Park
01.2022 - 08.2024
Drumline Coordinator and Arranger
WHEATON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Wheaton
06.2020 - 10.2022
- I wrote half of the Drumline's show music in 2020.
- Composed all of Drumline's warm-up exercises and 2021 show music.
- Created a regiment of Warm-ups and Exercises for the High School's Battery/Drumline.
Drumline Tech
LAKE PARK HIGH SCHOOL
01.2019 - 12.2019
Drumline/Battery Coordinator
WHEATON-WARRENVILLE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Wheaton
01.2019 - 12.2019
- I wrote all the music and choreography for the Drumline.
- Major accomplishments: Set the standard of high excellence within the performance aspect of the Drumline and the band.
Private Instructor, 4TH-8TH GRADES
PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
01.2017 - 12.2018
Percussion Instructor/Marching Band Assistant
NILES WEST HIGH SCHOOL
01.2017 - 12.2017
Private percussion instructor
COOPER MIDDLE SCHOOL
01.2016 - 12.2017
Drumline Instructor
MUNDELEIN HIGH SCHOOL & WHEELING HIGH SCHOOL
01.2016 - 12.2016
Drumline Instructor
ELGIN HIGH SCHOOL
01.2015 - 12.2015
Education
Master of Arts - Music Education
Vandercook College of Music
Chicago, IL12-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance: Instrumental
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
Naperville, IL05-2022
Associate of Arts - Fine Arts
WILLIAM RAINEY HARPER COLLEGE
Palatine, IL05-2020
Skills
- All Marching Percussion
- Xylophone
- Multi-percussion
- Vibraphone
- 2- & 4-Mallet Marimba
- Piano
- Snare Drum
- Drum kit
- Steel Tenor Pan and Double Seconds
- Timpani
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Flute
- Hi-Brass
- Low Brass
- Violin
- Cello
- Music composition
- Extensive knowledge on assembly, maintenance, & repair of percussion equipment
- Software Skills (Excel, iMovie, google drive, etc)
Websites
References
Available upon request
Performance
- CHICAGO BRASS BAND, Timpani, drum set, Fall 2022
- THE BRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH, drum set, Ongoing
- CHICAGO BEARS DRUMLINE, Tenors, 2015-Present
- MATRIX WORLD PERFORMING ARTS, Quad Player, White Noise, 2018, Life as a Movie, 2019
- CAVALIERS INDOOR PERCUSSION, Quad Player, Send in the Clowns, 2015
- SPIRIT OF ATLANTA DRUM & BUGLE CORPS, Quad Player, Crossroads: We are Here, 2017
- BLUE DEVILS INTERNATIONAL DRUM CORPS, Quad Player, Contracted for the 2020 Summer Tour
Timeline
IHSA Percussion Judge
District 50 Schools
03.2025 - 03.2025
Drumline Instructor
ELMWOOD PARK HIGH SCHOOL
01.2022 - 08.2024
Drumline Coordinator and Arranger
WHEATON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
06.2020 - 10.2022
Drumline/Battery Coordinator
WHEATON-WARRENVILLE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
01.2019 - 12.2019
Drumline Tech
LAKE PARK HIGH SCHOOL
01.2019 - 12.2019
Private Instructor, 4TH-8TH GRADES
PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
01.2017 - 12.2018
Percussion Instructor/Marching Band Assistant
NILES WEST HIGH SCHOOL
01.2017 - 12.2017
Private percussion instructor
COOPER MIDDLE SCHOOL
01.2016 - 12.2017
Drumline Instructor
MUNDELEIN HIGH SCHOOL & WHEELING HIGH SCHOOL
01.2016 - 12.2016
Tenor Drummer
CHICAGO BEARS DRUMLINE
01.2015 - Current
Drumline Instructor
ELGIN HIGH SCHOOL
01.2015 - 12.2015
Master of Arts - Music Education
Vandercook College of Music
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance: Instrumental
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
Associate of Arts - Fine Arts
WILLIAM RAINEY HARPER COLLEGE