Joseph Benavidez
Drill Designer & Marching Instructor
Joseph Benavidez Visual Drill Design and Instruction all started in 2001 from a life long passion in the outdoor and indoor marching arts. My marching career as part of the Notre Dame HS for Boys Bands in Niles, IL. I was a member of the Northern Illinois University and East Tennessee State University Marching Bands. I also marched drum corps on baritone with Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps and as a euphonium player with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps.
I taught music and marching and have designed marching drill for a number of high school and college marching bands in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Kentucky and Tennessee. I've also taught visual for LEAP Indoor Percussion and Hardin County Winterguard. I was a Visual Technician for Memphis Sound Drum & Bugle Corps and Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps. I was on Tour Staff with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps.
I also have taught and consulted on visual and marching for numerous marching bands throughout the country. I have been on Visual and Music staffs for Hardin County High School in TN and Knoxville Central HS in TN, Lake Park HS Marching Band in IL, Downers Grove South HS Marching Band in IL, Evanston Township HS Marching Band in IL, Niles West HS Marching Band in IL and Salem Community HS Marching Band in IL. Most recently I have been Visual Caption Head at Naperville North HS in IL and Salem Community HS in IL.
I am currently an Occupational Therapist in Pediatrics and for North DuPage Special Education Cooperative and in Home Health around the Chicagoland area. I also have worked as Special Education Teacher for Valley View School District 365U, Mannheim District 83 and Proviso Area for Exceptional Children District 803 in IL. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Family & Child Studies from Northern Illinois University and also have Masters Degrees in Occupational Therapy from Milligan College in Tennessee and in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, but currently reside with my wonderful wife, Laura, and two children, Joey and Annie in South Elgin, IL.