Band Director - In 2010 Chris became the new band director at his alma mater, Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CT. His duties include supervising the marching band, 3 concert bands, 2 jazz ensembles, 2 winter guard, indoor percussion ensemble and the pit orchestra. The Norwalk indoor percussion ensemble was a WGI World Championships A class finalist in 2010 and an Open class finalist every year since 2011. In 2014 the ensemble won the WGI Silver Medal, in 2015 they won the WGI Bronze Medal and in 2016 the ensemble won the WGI Silver Medal. 

The award winning marching band has won the National Class Musical Arts Conference Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2016 as well as the USBands National Championship in 2014 & 2017. Chris has judged numerous marching bands, state and regional music festivals for CMEA, USSBA and MAC. 

Assistant Director - Sara Golding-Bianco has been a music educator in Norwalk for 15 years, at both the elementary and middle school levels. She has taught at Naramake, Jefferson, and Marvin Elementary Schools before joining the West Rocks community in 2010.  Ms. Golding is a graduate of Norwalk High School (2000) as well as Western Connecticut State University (2004 and 2007).  She received both a B.S. in Music Education and an M.S. in Music Education from WCSU.    

 Ms. Golding is the Assistant Director of the Norwalk High School Marching Band.  She has worked with the band since 2010, first as a Brass instructor and now as Assistant Band Director. She also directed the Norwalk HS Jazz Ensemble from 2011-2016. 

At West Rocks, Ms. Golding is the Chorus and Drama Club director.  As the Drama Club advisor, she has produced and directed Seussical Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., Aladdin Jr, G2K Cinderella, The Little Mermaid Jr., Elf The Musical Jr, Hairspray Jr., and Annie Jr..   

Each year, she is amazed by the group of students that make the NHS Band such a big part of their high school years.  She feels very fortunate to be able to give them the experience that will last a lifetime.  It is a privilege to be able to see the students grow for 7 years through middle and high school.  She is humbled by the support of the NHS Band Family and the community.   

Stephen Lyons is excited to be returning for a second season on Norwalk’s instructional staff.  When he isn't teaching in the world of pageantry, Steve works at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury, where he teaches 4th-12th grade band, AP Music Theory, and Sound Design for Theater. He also performs frequently as a trumpet player with the Chelsea Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, Time and Changes Jazz Orchestra, and New London based funk/soul group Bank Street Groove.

Brass Staff - Glen is a 2015 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he studied music education and viola. He was a trombone section leader in the UCONN Marching Band, and played baritone with the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Glen currently teaches orchestra at West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk. He is also an instructor with Kids Empowered by Your Support (KEYS), a non-profit organization that provides free music lessons to underserved students in Bridgeport. Glen is very excited to join the Norwalk High School Marching Band brass staff for a third season.

Brandon is a Norwalk native and marched 4 years with the Norwalk High Marching Band, before graduating in 2011. Along with the marching band he participated in Winter Percussion, Concert band, Jazz band, and the spring musical.   Before teaching at NHS, Brandon spent 2 years with the Bethel High School Marching Band. During his time there as percussion caption he helped capture 2 back to back best percussion trophies.  Since 2013 Brandon has acted as the snare tech and battery coordinator for NHS. Being able to teach at his Alma Mater is very special for him.

Percussion Staff - Konrad graduated from Westhill High School in Stamford.  It was there where he learned mallet percussion in the indoor percussion program. He played marimba with the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2011 and 2012 then with Fusion Core in 2013-2015.

Percussion Staff - Michael recently graduated from Norwalk High School playing percussion in the Front Ensemble for all 4 years. He helped the band win 2 National Championships along with 2 WGI percussion medals. He has been a part of various ensembles throughout his high school career playing a wide range of percussion instruments. Michael will be attending Norwalk Community College this fall and looks to transfer to Western Connecticut State University to study music education. He is looking forward to helping out this year and can’t wait to see how the band progresses. 

Woodwind Caption Head -

Color Guard Caption Head - Esteban is currently a manager, hair stylist and makeup artist in a salon in Greenwich CT. He is M.A.C Cosmetics certified and Zumba Fitness certified.  Color Guard Experience includes: Port Chester High School Marching Band and Winterguard 2004-2008, Saturday Matinee Winterguard 2007, Sunrisers Drum And Bugle Corps 2006-2008, Fusion Core Drum and Bugle Corps, Alter Ego Winterguard 2009 and 2010, Hurricanes 2009 and Blessed Sacrament Winterguard 2013.

Soleil graduated from Norwalk High School and has been working with the group ever since. In her time at the high school she won two national championships as a marcher and a drum major, as well as a silver medal at the WGI indoor percussion finals in Dayton, Ohio. In addition to this, she participated in jazz and pit orchestra all four years. Currently Soleil is studying flute privately with Kerry Walker at Western Connecticut State University and is majoring in Music Education. After auditioning, she was placed in several large ensembles as well as smaller combos at the college. Soleil is very proud to have been given the opportunity to come back and work with such a well known and established band organization, and is looking forward to the new season. 

Courtney Tapper is a Norwalk alum who started with the A guard in 2009, and continued with the Open Guard and Fall guard from 2011-2015. After high school she marched Emanon World Guard in 2016 and Alter Ego World Guard from 2017-2018. As for outdoor, she marched Fusion Drum Corps from 2014-2016 and then marched with the Bluecoats Drum Corps from 2017-2018. Currently, she is a recent graduate of Fordham University, where she studied journalism and French. 

Color Guard Staff- 

Ryan is a Neurodevelopmental Specialist working in-home with children with special needs. He’s currently in school with goals of a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Georgia grown, he has worked with high schools and Independent groups across the Southeast. Color Guard experience includes: Roswell HS 04-08, Marching Southerners ‘08-‘10, Northgate IO , Aureus IO, Paramount IW ‘11-‘15, Alter Ego IW ‘16

Dylan Mazzarella is a former member of the Enrico Fermi marching band, graduating in 2015. He marched colorguard for 7th Regiment from 2015 to 2017, and Blue Knights in 2018. He was a member of the University of New Haven marching band and winter guard from 2016 to 2019. He is currently a colorguard instructor for the Bushwackers Drum and Bulge Corps. This will be his first season with Norwalk High School.

Amanda has been involved in the Color Guard activity for 15 years. She got her start marching for the Port Chester High School marching band and Winter Guard in 2005, competing in various local circuits, as well as WGI. She was named team Captain in 2008. Upon graduating, she began teaching at Port Chester High School as a Color Guard Technician. In 2012, she was named Color Guard Caption Head for The Saints Brigade Drum and Bugle Corps. from Port Chester, NY and for the Port Chester High School Color Guard. In 2018, she began working as the Color Guard Caption Head at Westhill HS in Stamford, CT. and became Color Guard Caption Head for The Westchester Brassmen Drum and Bugle Corps. from Harrison NY. For the 2020 winter season, Amanda was named the Director of the Norwalk AAA Color Guard. She currently resides in Rye Brook, NY and is wrapping up her degree as a Human Resources Professional. Amanda is very excited to have been given the opportunity to work with the talented staff and students of the Norwalk Color Guard.