VJA Music Parents Association
Victor J Andrew High School Music Directors
Mark D. Iwinski (VJA class of ‘02) has been the director of bands at Victor J. Andrew High School since 2010. He is the third director since the opening of Andrew High School in 1977. In addition to conducting two concert bands and percussion ensembles, his instructional roles include overseeing the Marching Thunderbolts, Pep Band, Jazz Ensembles, and conductor of the Pit Orchestra. Prior to his appointment at Andrew High School, Mr. Iwinski served as director of bands at Lincoln Middle School in Schiller Park, Illinois. Mr. Iwinski graduated from Illinois State University in 2007 where he earned his Bachelor's of Music Education degree, graduating on the Dean’s List. Additional education includes a Master of Music in Education degree at VanderCook College of Music, conferred in July of 2017.
Ensembles under his direction have included high placement in class and grand championships with the marching band. The marching band is also well represented in Illinois State Finals in the past decade. In 2023, the marching band was undefeated in Class 3A competition and was the 3rd place award winner out of 45 bands in the Illinois State Championships. The Andrew High School Wind Symphony has been a multi-year selectee to the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival, named 2A honor band in 2025, a four-time champion and honor band at the Midwest Music Festival, and receives consistent Division I ratings at festivals. In addition, the ensemble has performed at the 2018 and 2023 Illinois Music Education Conference as well as the 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2026 Music for All National Concert Band Festival. Mr. Iwinski has also coached several chamber ensembles to National recognition including two flute quartet performances at the Music for All National Festival in 2018 and 2020.
Mr. Iwinski has received five Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association and was a 2019 recipient of the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award. He serves as an adjudicator for various band festivals and solo/ensemble contests across the state of Illinois and has been a clinician to schools in the Chicago area. Professional memberships include the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, and is currently the Illinois State Chair of the American School Band Directors Association. Most importantly, he is a proud husband to Tiffany and father of three amazing children, Nora, William, and Johanna.
Chris Moan, VJA Choral Director, has been teaching at Andrew High School as a voice instructor and assistant theatre director since 2004 and began his tenure as choral director in 2009. He received his undergraduate degree from Luther College in Decorah, IA and worked under Dr. Weston Noble and Dr. Timothy Peter. He was selected to be the student conductor for the Cantorei women’s ensemble his senior year, and was a three-year member of the world renowned Nordic Choir. Mr. Moan also studied Theatre under Robert Larson and Jeff Dinteman.
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Upon graduating, he auditioned and was selected to be a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, a position he held for eight seasons. He can be heard on the 2008 Grammy Award winning recording of Verdi’s Requiem, conducted by Maestro Ricardo Muti. Mr. Moan received his Master’s in Music Education and Teaching Certification from VanderCook College of Music, where he studied with Dr. Robert Sinclair. Mr. Moan has also performed around Chicago and the Midwest with the professional jazz/pop octet, An Octave Above, as well as in various regional theatre productions around the area. He has recently been selected for the Theatre Directing Masters program at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
Tenor Peder Reiff, Voice Instructor, has been singing and teaching in the Chicago area for over twenty years and can frequently be found singing in the choruses of the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony, and Grant Park Music Festival. In addition to chorus work, Mr. Reiff has been seen throughout the country as a soloist with such companies as The Fort Wayne Symphony, The Northwest Indiana Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, Opera Illinois, Apollo Chorus, and the Chicago Master Singers.
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As a teacher, Mr. Reiff’s students are known for their vocal clarity and musical flexibility within a number of styles. They have been seen performing in such varied places as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Drury Lane Music Theater, and the House of Blues in styles ranging from classical to music theater, country, pop, and ska.