Chris Kilian - Creative Director

Chris Kilian (ASCAP) founded C.E. Kilian Designs in 2001, but he has been arranging and designing for bands and indoor programs since 1997. He is currently the Brass Arranger and Caption Head for the new Windsor Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from Mercer County, NJ. Chris is also an active clinician, judge, and instructor for bands all around the Mid-Atlantic region. Chris is also a composer of wind band and percussion music. For an example of his original works, or to commission an original work from him, email cekiliandesigns@gmail.com.

A self described "eternal student of the marching arts," Chris has been heavily involved with the drum corps activity for the last 15 years as a marching member, award winning drum major, instructor, and arranger.  He was the longest serving drum major in the history of the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps, having served 10 years in that role. Chris served as program coordinator and arranger/composer for the upstart Fusion Core Drum & Bugle Corps in 2008, placing 2nd overall and winning "High Brass," "High Visual," and "High Colorguard" in their second year of existence at the DCA Class A World Championships.  Kilian was elected to the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps Hall of Fame in 2009.

In 2009, "Traditional Christmas Variations," was premiered by the Penns Grove High School Concert Band (NJ), conducted by his wife, Dena, in December of 09. This was Chris' first composition for concert band, and signaled a shift in his musical focus.  Chris will be serving as a composer-in-residence at Penns Grove HS this school year, composing music for concert band, jazz band, small ensembles, indoor drum line, and football band. Many more compositions are underway and "Traditional Christmas" is available for purchase by emailing us at cekiliandesigns@gmail.com. Mr. Kilian's goal is to provide the finest in custom music arrangements and compositions to bands, drum and bugle corps, and other musical ensembles all over the world. Chris has teamed up with several percussion and drill designers, enabling C.E. Kilian Designs to offer total band, drum corps, and indoor drum line shows; from the design phase to the field. Now band directors can shed the burden of having to worry about writing when they could be teaching instead. The list of organizations who have worked with one or all of us is ever growing. Many of our clients have been with us for several years now, proving that they are not only satisfied with the quality of the work, but that they feel it has helped their program enough to hire us back time after time.

"My work and the work of my colleagues speaks for itself. I look forward to working closely with you
and your staff to create the perfect show for your ensemble."

Read what some of our clients say:

"Chris’ writing is capable of making even the smallest group sound like a large powerhouse band. He writes to your strengths while encouraging the weaker musicians to achieve what they couldn’t before the season started. My students prefer playing his arrangements. When they see his name on a composition, they instantly have faith in the fact that the music is good. Their favorite shows are the ones Chris has written. Chris arranges for my Concert Band as well and those students enjoy his arrangements because they are different, innovative, and challenging. As a whole, my instrumental music department is better because of his arrangements."

Mrs. Dena Berry-Kilian
Director of Bands
Penns Grove High School

"Chris Kilian was my Program Coordinator and Brass Arranger for the Fusion Core Drum & Bugle Corps for the 2008 season. His arrangements and his coordination of the show on the field led us to the DCA Class A Championship where we placed second and won High Brass, High Guard, and High Visual. His arrangements were very well received by the judges."

"Professional, dedicated, and talented, Chris Kilian writes and arranges with a quality that is unsurpassed. Mr. Kilian takes his menagerie of experiences and combines them into a product that has not only met, but surpassed our expectations. He has arranged music for my concert band and is currently working for my marching band. Chris’ professional integrity would not allow him to put out a product that is not of a high standard. He willfully made alterations to his arrangements to meet my expectations. He has mastered the skill of instrumentation and arranges for bands of any size. You will not be disappointed in the quality of his work."