NICHOLAS ROTUNNO
Wheeling,IL
Summary
Band/Music Educator: Knowledgeable band educator with strong foundation in diverse musical genres and live performance settings. Adept at integrating complex rhythms and creating dynamic, engaging performances. Demonstrated proficiency in collaboration and adaptability to enhance band cohesion and audience connection.
And
Professional musician with deep expertise in percussion and rhythm. Adept at contributing to and enhancing musical ensembles through strong teamwork and adaptability. Skilled in various drumming techniques, with keen sense of timing and dynamics. Consistently focused on achieving high-quality performances and supporting collaborative musical efforts.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Assistant
VanderCook College of Music
09.2024 - Current
- Symphonic Band Graduate Assistant
- Assisted Alexander Kaminsky with set up of the Vandercook College of Music Symphonic Band.
- Lead by example of producing good sound in your ensemble: "The Kaminsky Method"
- Consistent direction in positive reinforcement in teaching and rehearsal
- Coordination with multiple faculty members of the college on logistics in set up and musical context.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
VanderCook College of Music
09.2024 - Current
- Percussion Teaching Assistant
- Facilitated weekly discussion sections, enhancing student engagement and comprehension.
- Developed and implemented instructional materials for diverse learning styles.
- Helped comment and grade assignment on Schoology and Pinapto and provided constructive feedback to improve student performance.
- Collaborated with faculty to refine course curriculum and assessment strategies.
IHSA Percussion Judge
District 50 Schools
03.2025 - Current
- 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.
Tenor Drummer
Indianapolis Colts Drumline
07.2025 - Current
- Collaborated with music directors to arrange and adapt musical scores for diverse performances.
- Developed and implemented practice schedules, ensuring efficient use of rehearsal time for maximum productivity.
Tenor Drummer
CHICAGO BEARS DRUMLINE
01.2015 - 07.2025
- 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.
Drumline Coordinator and Arranger
WHEATON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
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/Battery Coordinator
WHEATON-WARRENVILLE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
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.
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
- Extensive knowledge on assembly, maintenance, & repair of percussion equipment
- Software Skills (Excel, iMovie, google drive, etc)
- Self-motivation and discipline
- Musical arrangements
- Dynamic control
- Music theory expertise
- Smooth transitions
- Contract agreement handling
- Innovative beat creation
- Creative fills development
- Effective stick control
- Reliable metronome use
- Polyrhythmic understanding
- Strong independence skills
- Drum tuning expertise
- Efficient practice habits
- Solid timekeeping
- Accurate sight reading
- Teamwork
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Multitasking Abilities
- Reliability
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
- Team leadership
- Creative thinking
- Active listening
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Relationship building
- Stage performance
- Live music performances
- Flexible schedule
- [All Winds and Percussion] proficient
- Team building
- Public relations
- Task prioritization
- Songwriting
- Live performances
- Self motivation
- Music production
- Music theory
- Interpersonal skills
- Goal setting
- Analytical thinking
- Professionalism
- Interpersonal communication
- Taking cues and direction
- Song composition
- Time management abilities
- Adaptability
- Continuous improvement
- Written communication
- Mixing skills
- Extensive performance background
- Reading sheet music
- Audience engagement
- Musical composition
Timeline
Tenor Drummer
Indianapolis Colts Drumline
07.2025 - Current
IHSA Percussion Judge
District 50 Schools
03.2025 - Current
Graduate Assistant
VanderCook College of Music
09.2024 - Current
Graduate Teaching Assistant
VanderCook College of Music
09.2024 - Current
Drumline Coordinator and Arranger
WHEATON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
06.2020 - 10.2022
Drumline/Battery Coordinator
WHEATON-WARRENVILLE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
01.2019 - 12.2019
Tenor Drummer
CHICAGO BEARS DRUMLINE
01.2015 - 07.2025
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance: Instrumental
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
Associate of Arts - Fine Arts
WILLIAM RAINEY HARPER COLLEGE
Master of Arts - Music Education
Vandercook College of Music
References
Available upon request
Performance
- HARPER COLLEGE STEEL BAND (2015-2024) - Played Steel Tenor pan and other Trinadad and Tobago steel pan instruments.
- CHICAGO BRASS BAND, Timpani, drum set, Fall 2022
- THE BRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH, drum set, Ongoing
- 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