A life of achievement
Shepard band director Chris Pitlik lauded at Midwest Music Festival
Chris Pitlik has instilled his love for music in thousands of his students over the years at Shepard High School in Palos Heights, including some who credit him with their success in music careers and in life in general long after they left the Shepard band room.
Pitlik recently earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Midwest Music Festival late last month at the event at Lemont High School.
Former student Bob Potsic, who now sings with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, said the award is well-deserved. Potsic gave up playing trombone at one point in high school to play sports, and when he asked to rejoin band was surprised at his welcome back.
“He gave me a chance and showed me, like, yes you can do this,” said Potsic, who played bass for the jazz band but wasn’t then adept at reading music. “It was a place where you could feel safe to be and make mistakes and learn from the mistakes. He’s the kind of teacher who pushes you really hard but also knows how to be kind and fun at the same time.”
And he’s always there to help students, even staying after school when needed, said Potsic, who went on to become a music instructor for 13 years at Andrew High School in Tinley Park and Sandburg High School in Orland Park. He now works in marketing and customer experience with Peterson Strobe Tuners, which makes equipment for professional musicians and student programs.
At the festival Feb. 24 and 25, the Shepard Wind Symphony performance earned the highest possible ratings from all three adjudicators. Pitlik received the award at the festival to the applause of his students and their parents and members of his family.
“They were cheering like crazy,” said Pitlik, a Shepard graduate who grew up in Alsip. “To do it in front of the parents and my own students was kind of a nice thing to do, as well.”
Pitlik’s extended music family was there too. Festival coordinator Mike Madonia is an old acquain
tance who used to perform at concerts with Pitlik’s father. Pitlik said Madonia had watched him over the course of his whole career. Also on hand as a festival clinician was Stephen Steele, one of Pitlik’s teachers when he was a graduate student in music performance at Illinois State University.
“It was cool to have basically three generations on stage at the same time,” Pitlik said.
Pitlik credits students and parents for his longevity behind the director’s podium at Shepard.
“I really like the kids,” he said. “I like their work ethic, their kindness. They want to succeed and they work hard.”
And their parents’ support of the band program makes a huge difference, he added.
The driving force behind it all, Pitlik said, is a love of music.
“I just try to have my passion for music come to the forefront,” he said. “I want my kids to have good, positive experiences, like I had going through school. I want them to love music the same way I love music.”
That passion has paid off in a slew of awards from contests that highlight his bands’ successes.
Next up, the Shepard band and choir will travel in May to a clinic at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and then head to New York City to perform on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier.
Shepard senior Gigi Carmenaty, leader of the band’s percussion section, can’t say enough about her band director.
“He’s definitely helped me and not just with music,” said Carmenaty, who has been playing since the fifth grade. “I probably would not be the person I am without him. He’s gotten me into a bunch of leadership roles. He’s just helped me kind of find out who I am as a person and kind of guided me in the right direction.”
Though Carmenaty hopes to work in medical pediatric physical therapy after college, she said music would remain an important part of her life.
“He’s very into it and I really like that,” said Carmenaty. “I can depend on him all the time for anything.”