Musical Director

Ray Forlenza

Completed his Bachelor and Master's degrees in Music Education from Chicago's VanderCook College of Music. Ray has taught band grades 5 through 8 in Kirby School District #140 in Tinley Park since 1986 and is a resident of Tinley Park, Illinois. He is currently conductor of the Southwest Community Concert Band in Lemont. In 1996 he initiated the Southwest Community Concert Band Band Day for area junior high and middle school band students, an event that has attracted over 1000 students in its 11-year history. In 2007, under his leadership the Southwest Community Concert Band initiated a weeklong Summer Band Camp. Ray also serves as a music adjudicator/clinician throughout the area and performs on saxophone and clarinet with various groups in the Chicago area.

Assistant Conductor

Cheryl Ciammetti

Received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education and is currently working towards her Master's degree from VanderCook College of Music. Cheryl has been the band director in school district #89 in Maywood and Melrose Park since 1987, where she has also taught orchestra and vocal music. She is a resident of Chicago, Illinois and has performed professionally with various bands and orchestras throughout the Chicago area. Cheryl has been an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band since 2000 and has been a Band Day instructor and a member of the Brass Ensemble.

Additional Musical Staff

Roger Barton

Received his Bachelors and Master degrees from DePaul University. Roger is a freelance professional musician in classical, rock/pop, traditional Irish music and local musicals. He has taught woodwind instruments and school band for the last 42 years at grammar, intermediate, junior high and high school levels. Roger has been band instructor for Catholic and public school programs in Chicago, Joliet, Blue Island and other south side suburbs as well as in clinics and band camps in the Greater Chicago area. Roger is a resident of Tinley Park and currently teaches private lessons on Flute and Clarinet. He is an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band, Clarinet Ensemble and is an instructor for the Summer Band Camp.

Cindy Bennett

Received a Bachelor and Master's degree in Performance from DePaul University and an Illinois Teaching Certificate in Music Education K-12 from Lewis University. She is currently working toward her doctorate in Moral And Ethical Leadership at Lewis University. Cindy is the elementary music teacher for Coal City District Unit #1 and a Music Instructor at both Lewis University and the University of Saint Francis and also maintains a private studio. Cindy has performed with the Illinois Brass band as well as other professional and community organization in the Chicago land area. Ms. Bennett has been an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band since 2003, a Band Day instructor, and currently performs with our Brass Ensemble.

Steve Imig

Received his Bachelor's in Music Education from Illinois State University and a Master's in Music Education form the University of Illinois. He is currently band director for Grant Park School District and previously was the assistant Director of Parkland College Community Band. Steve has guest conducted for the Kankakee Municipal Band, Mark Foutsch Brass Band in Champaign, and he performed as a trumpet soloist for the Kankakee Municipal Band, and the New Horizons Band in Kankakee. He is an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band's trumpet section and resides Palos Hills, Illinois. Steve is also a member of the Moraine Valley Community College Jazz Band, Concert Band and the Kankakee Valley Wind Band.

Aaron Nykaza

Received his Bachelor's of Music Education degree from Roosevelt University, and is currently working towards his Master's in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. Aaron has taught band in the Burbank School District #111 for the past 9 years and resides in Oak Lawn. He has been an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band since 1996 and has served as chairperson, sectional instructor and Summer Band Camp jazz band director. Aaron has been an adjudicator for numerous solo and ensemble contests in the Chicago land area. He is a member of the Starlighter Swing Band and NightBlue Theater Company's pit orchestra.

Michael Puckett

Is currently attending VanderCook College of Music, located in Chicago, where he will graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in the Spring of 2008. Michael is a sectional instructor for southwest Community Concert Band Summer Band Camp. He plays trombone with several of the VanderCook ensembles and also performs in the pit orchestra with Night Blue Theatre.

Christine Szarley

Received her Bachelor's in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music. Christine currently is employed as Band Director in Kirby School District #140 in Tinley Park and is a resident of Oak Lawn, Illinois. She has been an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band trumpet section since 1997, and has been chairmen of Band Day for the past three years. Christine has been a private music instructor, and is a solo and ensemble adjudicator in the Chicago land area. She is a member of the Starlighter Swing Band and the Orchestra Director for NightBlue Theater Company.

William Winters

Received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Music Performance from Illinois State University and his Master's Degree in Music Education from DePaul University. William is a Percussionist and Band Director, currently teaching 7th and 8th grade band at Blackhawk Middle School in Bensenville, Illinois. William has taught over seven high school drumlines, and currently instructs the drumline at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, IL. He is an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band and is an instructor of the bands Summer Band Camp.

Dr. Larry Woodruff

Received is Bachelor's of Science in Education in Instrumental Music from Northern Illinois University, his Master in Music Theory and Composition, from Northern Illinois University and his Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory, University of North Texas. Larry is a former member of US. Navy Band.
He has had a 20 year career in software and network engineering, consulting, product/project, and marketing and executive management, including 15 years with Reuters, the global news and information company. Currently retired a resident of Orland Park and teaching privately and part-time in Orland District #135. He is a member of the Starlighters Swing Band and an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band and Clarinet Ensemble.

Board members and Committe Chairmen

President / Website Chair

Jim Valtman

Education: Bachelor's of Science, Electrical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
Occupation: Sales Account Manager of Agilent Technologies
Hometown: Bolingbrook, Illinois
Started Playing: 1967
Musical Affiliations: Bolingbrook Community Band past President 3 years, Joliet Junior College Community Band, Joliet Bicentennial Pops Band, Bugles Across America, active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band and Brass Ensemble since 2003

Vice President / Membership Chair / Ad Book Coordinator

Jim Heckler

Occupation: AT&T Special Services Install and repair DSO circuits, T1and above circuits
Hometown: Lockport
Began Playing: 8th Grade 1971
Musical Affiliations: Joliet American Legion Band past President 6 years /Vice President/ Board member 15 years, Chairman "Sounds of Christmas" concert 18 years, Bolingbrook Community Band past President, active member Joliet Junior College Community Band, active member of Southwest Community Concert Band since 2003.

Secretary / Scholarship Committee Chair

Steve Benda

Education: Bachelor's in Liberal Arts from Governor State University
Occupation: Remodeling Contractor - Vice President / Part Owner
Hometown: Homer Township
Started Playing: 1975
Musical Affiliations: First Church of the Nazarene church band, active member of Southwest Community Concert Band Since 2003

Treasurer

Paul Benck

Education: Bachelor's of Science in Economics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Management and APICS certificates in Purchasing, DePaul University
Hometown: Worth, Illinois
Occupation: Production Planning / Budget / Logistics for Tru-vue Company
Hometown: Worth, Illinois
Started playing: 1964
Musical Affiliations: Brass Tracks Jazz Band - active member, has performed with NightBlue Theatre pit orchestra, Church Groups and is an active member of the Southwest Community Concert Band and Brass Ensemble.

Business Manager / Librarian / Grants Chair

Therese Sundberg

Education: Bachelor's in Music Education VanderCook College of Music
Home Town: Alsip, Illinois
Started playing: Studied and taught music privately since 1964
Occupation: Retired Business Owner
Musical Affiliations: Active member of Grant Monroe Orchestra, NightBlue Theatre Pit Orchestra, various freelance and church groups, Past President of Southwest Community Concert Band, and an active member of the band and Brass Ensemble since its inception in the fall of 1981, including, Board member, Manager.