Rossi DiBenedetto,
Band Director
Ryan McCue, Drum Major
Clayton Batiquin, Drum Major  

Rossi DiBenedetto is the new Director of Bands for Mandeville High School. Prior to Mandeville, Mr. DiBenedetto received his master’s degree in Percussion Performance at Southeastern Louisiana University. While attending Southeastern, Mr. DiBenedetto was the graduate assistant. His duties included Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Basketball Band, Percussion Methods, and World Music.  Prior to Southeastern, Mr. DiBenedetto taught instrumental music for four years in Ohio at Newark High School and Mount Gilead Schools.  In Newark, Mr. DiBenedetto’s bands went to state in all areas and received a superior rating in the state marching band finals.  Prior to Newark, Mr. DiBenedetto was the Band Director for Mount Gilead Schools and taught grades 6^th-12^th. While at Mount Gilead his marching and concert band programs reached the state level. The marching band won Best Overall and Grand Champion awards many times during those years. 

Mr. DiBenedetto received his Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Akron. While at Akron, Mr. DiBenedetto was the percussion instructor for three “AA” bands in the area. All percussion sections won best percussion awards throughout these years.

Mr. DiBenedetto will be in charge of the Mandeville High School Skipper Marching Band and Concert Programs. He will also teach Jazz Band, Percussion Class, Basketball Band, and Fine Arts Survey. Mr. DiBenedetto is also excited to start a Winter Guard and Winter Percussion Program.

 

BRASS INSTRUCTOR
DAVID WILL

David Will is a senior Music Education major at Southeastern Louisiana University. While David plays a variety of brass instruments, his primary focus at Southeastern has been the trumpet. As a trumpet player at Southeastern, David has performed in the Wind Symphony, the Symphonic Band, the Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Marching Band, Basketball Band, and the Southeastern Trumpet Ensemble. In his spare time, David manages and performs in a New Orleans-style brass band with his classmates. In recent years, David has served as an undergraduate assistant to the director of athletic bands at Southeastern, Mr. Paul Frechou. Last year, David served as the assistant director to Jazz Ensemble I. David is an alumnus of Mandeville High, and upon graduation, he hopes to teach in St. Tammany Parish or the surrounding area.