Gavin Wilson has been performing in the DeKalb area since he was 18, which is almost 20 years ago. Recently he discovered what nights weekends and holidays look like, after retiring from the Hillside Restaurant. He still works full time for COUNTRY Financial, but sings a little longer in the shower. In his free time, Gavin performs with Jazz In Progress, Stage Coach Players, and any grandchildren that will tolerate him. He has recently found a way to justify paying for his NIU education by writing and arranging music again after a long hiatus. Gavin would like to thank Kirk and the Municipal Band All Stars for continuing this amazing venue for so many talented area vocalists to perform in.

Maureen Christine is an award-winning concert vocalist and Broadway-style entertainer with two CDs that have been released nationally to critical acclaim. Maureen has a voice "crystal clear, not a note or syllable wasted" (New York’s Pink Paper). Maureen CD "My Romance", featuring jazz pianist, Frank Mantooth, received Grammy consideration for Traditional Pop Vocal alongside Harry Connick, Jr. and Rosemary Clooney. Maureen has recorded with Pete Christlieb of the Johnny Carson Tonight Show Orchestra, shared the stage with pop star Barry Manilow, opened for country star Willie Nelson and been a guest artist with musicians of the Count Basie Orchestra. Maureen has received numerous invitations to sing for dignitaries including Astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Her rendition of The National Anthem is featured in a movie starring Dennis Quade and Zach Effron, and she has received multiple invitations to sing the National Anthem for the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Maureen believes in giving back to her community and donates her talent to such important organizations as Home of the Sparrow and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Her original song, commissioned and written for United Way McHenry County, garnered 1st place in the nation for Campaign song. In 2019, she was honored with the Distinguished Graduate Award for making a positive impact on the community, serving humanity, and inspiring others. Maureen appears in concerts headlining with symphony orchestras, prestigious concert bands and big bands, and she has concertized at numerous Presenting Arts Centers throughout the Midwest and abroad. Click on Maureen's name to visit her website.

Jordan Pedigo has been singing and performing since 2007. In 2019, he graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Music Education. He has performed with choirs in Italy, New York City, and Chicago. Jordan also performs as a Baritone with the professional choir, Cor Cantiamo. Pedigo serves as the Choral Director at Burlington Central High School. He has recently been the musical director of a production of the Addams Family and teaches private voice lessons as well. He is supported by a loving family and friends and is humbled and excited about the opportunity to perform for this community!

Sycamore native, soprano Terri Crain Goodman, graduated from Sycamore High School and earned degrees in both Vocal Music and Music Education from N.I.U. She taught K-12 general and choral music and directed theatre in the Mt. Morris, Oregon and Sycamore school districts for 26 years. She continues to maintain a private voice studio and is currently the PR Specialist at Bill White’s C.A.R. Hospital. Goodman is extremely active in the theater, having directed, music directed, produced and held starring roles in numerous plays and musicals over the past 40 years. She has worked with theatre groups from Naperville, Wheaton, Freeport, Dixon and Sycamore and was honored in 2014 to be a SCOTY Award recipient from Stage Coach Players in DeKalb. She most recently performed the role of Miss Shingle in the Wheaton Drama production of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” She has been a member of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee since 2015 and is the current Secretary and Parade Co-Chair. She and her husband, Ken Goodman, Sycamore High School band director, have one flute playing daughter, Alise.

Jill McCormick graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a B.S. in Music Education, where she was a member of the highly acclaimed University Chorale. She also obtained her Masters of Music degree from NIU in 2005. Jill recently completed her English as a Second Language Endorsement at NIU. Jill is currently teaching General Music at Founders Elementary and is the Music Coordinator for District 428. She grew up in the area and loves performing in the community. Jill is thrilled to be performing once again with the DeKalb Municipal Band.

Mark Robinson has been the band’s principal horn since 2007, is principal horn for the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra and is a member of Thesix Chamber Winds. Mark lives in DeKalb with his wife (bassoonist) and 4 children. Early vocal experiences included children’s church choir, Joliet High School concert and swing choirs, and performing in local summer theaters. Vocal studies with Linda Jaskoviak were influential in developing his vocal tone and concepts. As a member of the Marine Corp Band, Mark focused on French horn during boot camp and, once deployed, primarily played the horn, but also performed on saxophone and sang with the jazz band. Mark has performed as an instrumentalist and vocalist in clubs throughout the Midwest and Colorado. This is Mark’s eighth season performing as a vocalist with the DeKalb Municipal Band. Mark’s professional career also includes: • Attending NIU where he studied the French horn with John Fairfield and performed with the Madrigals and Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Elwood Smith • Receiving coaching in orchestration and arranging from Dr. Jan Bach, NIU Music professor • Performing instrumentally and vocally for a range of dignitaries, presidents, and celebrities such as Bob Hope, Ginger Rogers, President Ford and General Norman Schwarzkopf while a member of the Marine Corps band • Singing for Kirk Douglas, his wife, and son Michael Douglas at Kirk’s banquet honoring him as “Man of the Year” in Palm Springs that year

Christine Monteiro, lyric soprano, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Performance from NIU. Christine is a member of the trumpet sections of the DeKalb Municipal Band and the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She has been heard in pit orchestras for more than 25 Stage Coach Players’ musical productions. Christine plays lead trumpet in Jazz in Progress and the Class Act II Big Band. She is also one of the female vocalists for Jazz in Progress. Described as “one of the premier sopranos in the Northern Illinois area,” she is often sought after as a soloist for special festivals and recitals. Christine has been a featured vocalist with the DeKalb Municipal Band, DeKalb Festival Chorus, Kishwaukee Area Concert Band, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Stateline Music Foundation Festival Chorus, and other choirs in Illinois. A performer of many talents, Christine is the director of the Celebration Chorale and the Waterman Community Choir. Christine is a member of the Sycamore High School Music Hall of Fame.

Bethany Brewer is a native of the Chicagoland area. Bethany graduated from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, where she performed roles such as the 2nd Witch (Dido and Aeneas) and 3rd Lady (Die Zauberflöte) and performed several solo recitals featuring works by Schumann, J.S. Bach, Rossini, Fauré, and others. In 2017, she made her way to Denver, Colorado to pursue her Master’s at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studied with Abigail Nims. Before graduating in 2020 from the University of Colorado Boulder, Bethany explored a variety of opportunities, performing with CU Boulder’s Early Music Ensemble, Boulder Bach Festival, singing Filippyevna (Eugene Onegin) with Ecklund Opera, and performing several recitals featuring works by Dominick Argento, Lori Laitman, and Hugo Wolf. Since moving back to the greater Chicagoland area in 2021, Bethany has been working to establish herself as a performer and private voice instructor in a new area. She has most recently performed with Chicago’s Music of the Baroque and Cor Cantiamo ensembles and can be found singing as a section leader at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn, IL. Most recently, Bethany had the opportunity to perform the role of Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) with the Miami Beach Classic Music Festival. She is so thrilled to have the opportunity to sing with the DeKalb Municipal Band this summer and visit some repertoire she has deeply loved since childhood!

David Pfenninger is honored to be making his DeKalb Municipal Band debut. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music. For the past 24 years, he has served as choral director at Gregory Middle School in Naperville, where he leads three curricular choirs, a treble honors choir, a men’s ensemble, and a pop/jazz ensemble, as well as music directs the school musical. David is also an experienced vocalist and performer in the Chicagoland area, appearing in various stage, cabaret, and concert settings over the years. In July, he will be seen in St. James Theatre’s production of Big Fish, playing the central character of Edward Bloom. Some of his other area stage credits include Something Rotten! (Nick Bottom – BroadwayWorld Chicago Award: Best Performer in a Musical), Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Forever Plaid (Sparky), The Secret Garden (Neville), Into the Woods (Baker), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfée), City of Angels (Stine), Cabaret (Emcee), and award-winning productions of Parade (Leo), Ragtime (Tateh), and Sweeney Todd (Sweeney). This fall, he will be taking on the role of John Wilkes Booth in Wee Productions’ staging of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins. For the past nine seasons, he has also been a member of NIU’s professional choral ensemble-in-residence, Cor Cantiamo, where he serves as baritone/bass section leader. David currently resides in Lombard with his wife, Christine, and daughter, Amalia, to whom he dedicates his performance. He is thankful for the opportunity to sing with this storied band and for the DeKalb community.

Deanna Tausch (formerly Deanna Frances) is a native of Shabbona, Illinois, and is honored to be returning as a soloist with the DeKalb Municipal Band. Deanna holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University, as well as a Master of Science in Education degree from Northern Illinois University. During her collegiate career, Deanna performed in several ensembles including the NIU Chamber Choir, NIU Concert Choir, and the NIU Opera Theatre Chorus. Deanna is currently a member of the professional vocal ensemble Cor Cantiamo, and has been featured as a guest soloist for the Young Naperville Singers and several local churches. Deanna is also the founder of the Musical Moments Early Childhood Music Class, which is offered to young children and their caregivers in the DeKalb County area. Deanna currently teaches early childhood and elementary school music in the Kaneland school district, and resides in Waterman, Illinois with her husband and son.

King received a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education with a French minor from Millikin University in Decatur. During his collegiate career, he competed in the international competition Harmony Sweepstakes (an a cappella singing competition) and also traveled to China during the 2008 Olympic Games to sing with his collegiate choir. King serves as the choir director for Clinton Rosette Middle School in DeKalb. He recently directed the musical “Annie, Jr.” and sings tenor for the St. Charles Singers. He is thankful for the love and support from his family, friends, and students, but most importantly from his wife Chelsea. He is extremely humbled and honored to perform for this great community once again.