Published: April 28, 2009 02:45 pm      

Wa-Nee's Red Regiment gets new director

NAPPANEE — NorthWood High School band students and parents were at Monday night’s Wa-Nee school board meeting to welcome their new director.

Eric R. Criss, who is director of bands at Columbia City High School near Fort Wayne, was hired Monday as director of instrumental music to replace Gordon Couch, who resigned unexpectedly in January. He will also be assisting Maureen Gray, director of the band program at the middle school.

Criss has been at Columbia City High School since July 2003. He was previously director of bands at Peebles High School for a year. Originally from West Salem, Ohio, he graduated from Grace College in 1999 and is completing his master’s of education in music at Ball State University.

Criss and his wife, Rochelle, have three children, Graham, Grant and Ainsley. They reside in Warsaw, but are looking for a new home in the Wa-Nee district.

Criss said he has a feel for the band program at Wa-Nee. Two years ago, he was the trumpet instructor for the concert band.

He said he loves the small town atmosphere of the Wa-Nee district.

“During the interview and especially here tonight, I got a warm feeling of acceptance,” he said.

NWHS Principal Dave Maugel said Criss’ previous experiences will be a good fit at Wa-Nee.

“He’s got a taste of what it means to grow numbers,” Maugel said. “And how to connect to the middle school. He knows hard work, how to put a vision together and how to accomplish it.”