Frank Lestina

Frank Lestina (b. 1957) received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Roosevelt University and his Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Illinois. His 33-year career as a music educator started in Danville, Illinois and then Libertyville and Vernon Hills High Schools in the suburbs north of Chicago. During his tenure at Libertyville, the Symphony Orchestra was invited to perform at the Midwest Clinic in 1991 and again in 1996. Mr. Lestina accepted the position of Fine Arts Supervisor and Orchestra Director at the new Vernon Hills High School in 2000. The VHHS Symphony Orchestra performed at the Midwest Clinic in 2009. He retired from Vernon Hills High School in June of 2013 and currently serves as adjunct faculty in Music Education at DePaul University and VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. In addition, he currently moderates the New Music Reading Session for Orchestra at the Midwest Clinic. 

Mr. Lestina is very active as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. He had the honor of conducting the ILMEA All-State Orchestra for the 2014 Conference in Peoria, Illinois. In May of 2018, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from VanderCook College of Music for his contributions to music education.