Currently, Mr. Casagrande serves as the conductor of the Merit School of Music Wind Symphony, comprised of some of the finest high school musicians in the Chicagoland area. He also serves Music for All as a Music Education Consultant. He is an administrator for the Music Education Alliance and the Dr. William P. Foster Project serving bands in under-served communities. He is a Past-President of the National Band Association and was a member of the NBA Executive Board from 2012-2020.
Under Mr. Casagrande’s direction, the John Hersey Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble performed as a featured ensemble in the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. They were selected to perform in 23 Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festivals, two Illinois Music Educators Association Conventions and four Music for All National Concert Band Festivals. The Hersey Symphonic Band was named the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival Honor Band four times and the band program was awarded the Sudler Flag of Honor by the Sousa Foundation. In addition, Jazz Ensembles under Mr. Casagrande’s direction were Grand Champions at the Purdue Jazz Festival and the Jazz in the Meadows Festival several times (90+ ensembles in both events).
Mr. Casagrande received his B.S. and M.S. in Music Education at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
