Steve Chalupnik

Steve Chalupnik is a born and raised Chicagoan, growing up on the northwest side and therefore swearing allegiance to the greatest team of all time, the Chicago Cubs!  Always adventurous, time was spent in St. Philomena School, Our Lady of Grace School and finally an 8th grade graduation from St. Wenceslaus School.  After graduating from Lane Technical High School, he attended Western Illinois University with a double major in Music Education and History Education.

Although his very first musical instrument was the accordion, Mr. Chalupnik gravitated to the not so petite Double Bass and has performed with the Monmouth, Galesburg, Quincy, Wheaton, Southwest, and West Suburban Symphony Orchestras including performance tours in the United States and in Europe.

Thirtysomething years in the classroom really is his true calling though.  Straight Outta College found Mr. C. at St. Michael School in Wheaton, before moving to the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus School in Joliet for 20 years.  Saints Peter and Paul School has been his home away from home for the last 9 years.

Favorite Bible Quote

Instead of a Bible Quote I am selecting the refrain from one of my favorite hymns.  This refrain draws from multiple verses from the Bible:

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,

I can feel His mighty power and His grace.

I can hear the brush of angel's wings

I see glory on each face;

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place

Teaching Philosophy

The world would be a much different place without Music.  It would be a much sadder place indeed.  I want my classroom to be that space where we all learn something new  that we may or may not draw upon later in life.  I want it to be that space where each time we walk out it is with something that we may not have known when we walked in.  Most importantly I want it to be that space that ignites the passion and love for music in anyone that may not know they have that spark within them, and gives them reason to nurture it when they leave Saints Peter and Paul School.