Dan Moore, Director of Bands

Director of Bands at Naperville North since the turn of the century, Dan Moore has helped build an impressive reputation for the Husky music department both on the marching field and under the concert lights.

Mr. Moore has a national reputation for his work as an arranger and visual designer for the NNHS marching band, which is one of the most popular on the Midwest circuit because of its originality and sense of humor. But Moore is also a jazz devotee and his award-winning North ensembles are always amongst the best in the area. And each of these are natural branches off an amazing concert band program that ranks among the top in Illinois. A quick look at some of the laurels the North music program has collected since Moore arrived in 1999 shows the balance and depth of the music program:

• Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival in New York City (2000),
• 4th place at ISU’s marching band state invitational (2001),
• IMEA All-state band (2004),
• 2nd place at ISU’s marching band state invitational (2005), and
• a spotlight at the Orchestra Hall Circle of Honor (2007).

Moore received his B.A. in music education from Western Illinois University in 1987 and his M.M. in jazz pedagogy from Northwestern University in 1999. A trumpeter who also performs with the Naperville Municipal Band and Big Band, Moore is an active clinician and adjudicator for marching band and jazz. He lives in Naperville with his wife and two daughters.

Q&A with Dan Moore

What has been your proudest moment at North?

The spontaneous standing ovation at Orchestra Hall.

Why did you pick the trumpet?

I have no idea. I think it picked me. There was no other consideration.

What was your personal performing highlight?

At the 1985 DCI Semi-finals when I marched with the Geneseo Knights. We finished 19th.

What five pieces of music will always be on your Ipod?

Anything by Duke, Ella, or Louie. (And if you don’t know who they are, you will!)

What would be your best less-than-10 words piece of advice for student musicians?

Ego, tempered by discipline, produces confidence.