Western NY native Sal LaRusso holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master's Degree in Communications from Fairfield University. He is a thirty-nine year member of NAfME and CMEA. Mr. LaRusso began his teaching career as the band and jazz director at Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, CT. In 1980, Mr. LaRusso joined the music department in the Weston, CT Public Schools as the high school and middle school instrumental music teacher. During his 34 year tenure in Weston, the instrumental program grew from one band in both the high school and middle school to a total of 6 bands and 4 jazz ensembles in those same schools. Throughout his years in Weston he also devoted time to connect with all of the members of Weston’s musical community, working at one time or another by serving as a guest conductor with Weston’s orchestras, choral ensembles, and theatrical groups of all ages. Mr. LaRusso retired in the spring of 2014 from his position as Director of Bands and Jazz Ensembles at Weston High School and is eager to use his experience and engaging personality enrich the musical lives of a new audience of young musicians. In addition to his work in public school music education, Mr. LaRusso has held the position of musical director of the Westport Community Band since 1988. In that time, he has pioneered the effort to reacquaint musicians of all ages with a rekindled connection to concert band literature. Mr. LaRusso resides in Fairfield, CT with his wife, flutist Candace Channing.