Director of Bands
Mark Walton
(219) 365-9203 ext 7305
mwalton@lcscmail.com
Assistant Director / Percussion Specialist
Ryan Lauciello
rlauciel@lcscmail.com
Mark Walton has been the director of bands at Clark Middle School in St. John, IN since 2012. He attended Anderson University in Indiana, where he earned his B.M. in Music Education. During his time, he studied with John Huntoon and Dr. Jonathan Brooks. During his collegiate years, Mr. Walton was a marching member of the Capital Regiment, Glassmen, and Phantom Regiment drum and bugle corps. He currently plays euphonium with Windiana Concert Band of Northwest Indiana, and has composed works performed by the ensemble. He is a member of the Indiana National Guard, serving as a euphonium player in the 38th Infantry Band in Indianapolis, IN.
As a teacher, Mr. Walton’s ensembles have been recognized for their outstanding musical achievements by the Indiana State School Music Association and his students have been recognized by the Indiana Bandmaster’s Association in all-region and Jr. all-state ensembles. In 2017, Mr. Walton was recognized as one of Clark Middle Schools’ “Most Influential Staff Members.” He regularly arranges and composes music for the bands at Clark Middle School.
In addition to teaching, he completed the Chicago marathon in 2017 and a half-ironman in 2021. He and his wife, Kelly live in Crown Point, IN where she is also a music teacher.
Ryan Lauciello is the Percussion Director for the Lake Central School Corporation where he directs the marching percussion program, winter percussion ensemble, and concert percussion ensembles. Previously, Mr. Lauciello has worked as a percussion technician at Joliet West High School and Lincoln-Way East High School. Under his direction, Joliet West’s marching percussion section received a Best Percussion Award during their 2021 competitive season.
As a performer, Mr. Lauciello was a member of Illinois State University’s percussion ensemble and top wind ensemble. During his time in those ensembles, he has performed at the Illinois Music Educator Conference held in Peoria, Illinois. Mr. Lauciello was also a member of the Cavaliers Indoor Percussion program, a world class winter percussion ensemble, during 2017 and 2018.
Mr. Lauciello holds two bachelor’s degrees in music education and music composition from Illinois State University.