East Aurora Band Faculty
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Brian G. Liska
Wind Ensemble Concert Band Brian Liska graduated from Naperville North High School in 2001 and went on to study Music Education at North Central College. While at North Central, Brian sat first chair bassoon for four years in the Concert Band and Concert Winds. He was a co-conductor of the Bolingbrook Community Orchestra, and the first drum major of The Red Noise (NCC's pep band). He also played in many of the pit orchestras for North Central's musicals.
Brian graduated with honors from North Central College in 2005 and also received the Outstanding Senior Band Member Award and the Outstanding Music Education Major Award that year. In 2018 he graduated from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago with a Masters Degree in Music Education. |
Brian started working at East Aurora High School in the fall of 2005. He prides himself on picking challenging music for his students and pushing them to be the best they can be. Students at East Aurora have performed at Walt Disney World, New York City, University of Illinois in Chicago, and Purdue University just to name a few.
Brian lives in Montgomery with his wife, Colette, and two daughters, Charlie (b. 2006) and Corey (b. 2011).
Brian lives in Montgomery with his wife, Colette, and two daughters, Charlie (b. 2006) and Corey (b. 2011).
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Joe Kulick
Wind Symphony Percussion Techniques Music Production Joe Kulick currently holds a Bachelors Degree from Kansas State University. During his time there, he studied with Dr. Kurt Gartner and was involved in many ensembles, including a student-lead Percussion Ensemble, a Jazz Combo, and a Latin Jazz Ensemble. He also won Second place in the Kansas State University Honors Recital, and was a winner of the Concerto Competition, where he had the opportunity to perform with the Kansas State Orchestra. Joe was a member of Green Thunder Percussion (now named Cavalier Indoor) for two years, as well as a member of the Cavalier Drum and Bugle Corps from 2010 to 2013. In 2014, Joe traveled to Cuba to study Latin Percussion with some of the best players in the country, and plans to return to continue his studies.
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Joe received a masters degree in music education at VanderCook College of Music. Joe’s wide variety of performance experience and interest in music technology provides the students of East Aurora with a unique and cutting-edge education in a variety of music origins and influences, and opportunities to learn the processes of recording and producing music.
Joe is honored to work in the East Aurora School District and continually works to offer students new performance opportunities and a holistic musical experience in their time at EAHS.
Joe is honored to work in the East Aurora School District and continually works to offer students new performance opportunities and a holistic musical experience in their time at EAHS.
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John Damore
Symphonic Winds Guitar 1 & 2 Guitar Ensemble Mr. John Damore graduated from Romeoville High School in 2005 and then from Illinois State University in 2010. While at ISU, Mr. Damore performed on the trombone in Concert and Jazz settings and on baritone and as drum major in the marching band, ISU’s Big Red Marching Machine. Mr Damore played baritone with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps from 2006 to 2008.
Prior to teaching at East Aurora, Mr. Damore taught middle school and beginning band and spent his evenings working with competitive marching bands and indoor drumlines at Downers Grove South High School and Minooka High School. He taught the Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps in 2009 and 2010 and the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2011. Mr. Damore lives in Plainfield with his wife Caitlin and children Lucy and Johnny. |
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Chuck Naffier
Symphonic Band Beginning Band Jazz Ensemble Mr. Naffier grew up in Dubuque, IA and graduated from Dubuque Senior HS in 1981. After graduation he attended The University of Iowa and played lead trumpet in the #1 band, Johnson County Landmark. After transferring to University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, CO., he continued playing lead trumpet while arranging marching band music for UNC’s Pride of the Rockies Marching Band and the Denver Brass. He was immediately hired as the band director at Poudre High School in Ft. Collins, CO.
Mr. Naffier has an extensive background in Marching Band and Drum & Bugle Corps. He performed on lead trumpet with the Colts (Dubuque, IA) and after aging-out began his teaching career with the Colts in 1985. In 1987 he was named as head of the brass program, and in 1990 added Music Arranger and Program Coordinator to his resume, helping lead the Colts into DCI Finalist status 6 time from 1993-1999. He also spent 8 years arranging music for the Crossmen Drum Corps (Allentown, PA and San Antonio TX), finishing as a DCI Finalist for 7 or those 8 years. Other arranging was for the Troopers (Casper, WY) and the Madison Scouts (Madison, WI). |
While successfully working as a freelance music arranger/composer from 1996 – 2020 for bands in 17 states, and judging marching band invitationals, state and regional contests around the United States, including Grand Nationals Finals for Bands of America (BOA), Mr. Naffier continued teaching in Florida as Director of Concert Band, Sound Engineering and Electronic Music Composition in Palm Beach County. He also arranged for the Al Chez Brothers of Funk Big Band (NYC) and engineered, edited/mixed and played trumpet for the group.
Just prior to coming to East Aurora HS, Mr. Naffier taught Guitar Class at Lake Park HS in Roselle, IL and was the Band Director for Hawthorn Middle South in Vernon Hills, IL with 165 students 6th-8th grade, never earning below Div. I Ratings at NIMcon and IGSMA contests annually.
Mr. Naffier and his wife live in St. Charles, IL with their 14-year-old black lab “Jett”, and enjoy spending time with their 5 adult boys and extended family, while exploring the arts, sports and music that Chicago has to offer. He is thrilled to be at EAHS, working with a wonderful staff and students, as we continue to push out of our comfort zones to be even better than we thought we could be!
Just prior to coming to East Aurora HS, Mr. Naffier taught Guitar Class at Lake Park HS in Roselle, IL and was the Band Director for Hawthorn Middle South in Vernon Hills, IL with 165 students 6th-8th grade, never earning below Div. I Ratings at NIMcon and IGSMA contests annually.
Mr. Naffier and his wife live in St. Charles, IL with their 14-year-old black lab “Jett”, and enjoy spending time with their 5 adult boys and extended family, while exploring the arts, sports and music that Chicago has to offer. He is thrilled to be at EAHS, working with a wonderful staff and students, as we continue to push out of our comfort zones to be even better than we thought we could be!
Marching Band Staff
Lauren Twohill
Assistant Marching Band Director
Imanol Ruiz
Percussion Instructor
Dacia Sands
Color Guard Instructor
Marlene Valdez
Color Guard Instructor
Assistant Marching Band Director
Imanol Ruiz
Percussion Instructor
Dacia Sands
Color Guard Instructor
Marlene Valdez
Color Guard Instructor
