Maine West Music Student, Sophia Luong, Accepted into Prestigious Carnegie Hall Summer Program #207Now #excellence #musiceducation #creativityfuelsthefuture @mainewestband @mainewestfab

Sophia Luong, a junior percussionist in the Maine West Band, has been accepted into a prestigious summer music program, Carnegie Hall NY02. The NY02 program offers outstanding young American instrumentalists selected from a national pool of talent a free summer orchestra program in which participants collaborate with the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) and the NYO Jazz programs for intensive training and performance opportunities. Musicians in the program have the opportunity to work with top performers and pedagogues from the nation's most respected orchestras and conservatories. 

Sophia was recently featured in the Daily Herald for her accomplishment. You can read the article HERE. 

Congratulations, Sophia! All of us at West are so proud of you!

Congratulations to the WEST SIDE DANCE COMPANY on Successful Performances of "ELEMENTS!" #207Now #dance #westsidedanceco @westsidedanceco

Congratulations to all of the dancers involved in the West Side Dance Company's show, "ELEMENTS!" Each dance was captivating and inspiring!

A special recognition to all of the student choreographers for your impressive work in creating creative, beautiful, and entertaining dance numbers!

PROGRAM

Opening - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza

Earth, Wind & Fire - Choreographed by Ava Williams

Fire Stages (Juniors)

Iron Man (Sophomores)

Singing in the Rain (Seniors)

Edge of the Water - Choreographed by Mrs. Lisa Jacob

Pani - Choreographed by Sharon Thomas

Hanging Tree (Freshmen)

Burn - Choreographed by Makayla Allen

Gold - Choreographed by Jessica Mueller

Tap Water - Choreographed by Lauren Roskoske

Air - Choreographed by Jadyn Chelberg

Sparks - Choreographed by Sofia Vincent

Desi Dhamaka (Special Guest Performance) - Choreographed by Feyona Baiju, Ann Biju, Shanette Ellickal & Alaina Thirunelliparambil

Fireball - Choreographed by Ashlinn Demonte

Crazy Weather - Choreographed by Ms. Lisa Jacob

Sun - Choreographed by Kailynn Ritti & Ava Williams

Elements - Choreographed by Ashlinn Demonte & Bianca Noonan

Helium - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza & Kiley White

Natural - Choreographed by Jadyn Chelberg

Formula - Choreographed by Katie Delaney

Sunshine - Choreographed by Mrs. Lisa Jacob

H2O - Choreographed by Adriana Lee & Kiley White

Mercury - Choreographed by Samantha Sukosol

Hurricane - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza

Rain On Me

Wind - Choreographed by Fiona Fowler

The Scientist (4th Year)

It's Not The Water - Choreographed by Mrs. Lisa Jacob

Closing - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza

Thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters and all of the parent volunteers for helping to make this event happen!

More pictures from the show can be found HERE. 

Maine West Art Students Receive Recognition and Scholarships at Regional IHSAE Exhibition #207Now @mainewestart #art #creativityfuelsthefuture

The 9th Annual Illinois High School Art Exhibition brings the best student artists from 100 Illinois suburban, public and private high schools to compete and celebrate the power of art in their lives. Four Maine West students will have have art in this prestigious art exhibit and competition. The students representing Maine West this year are: 

Laura Grahn, Mixed Media
Weronika Kmieć, Acrylic Painting 
Gabby Szewczyk, Photo
Natalia Habczyk, Drawing

Zensanna Yost, Digital Art

These students' works will be on exhibit, along with the works of over 500 students artists from across the Chicago region, at the Bridgeport Art Center (1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609) from March 13th-April 28th.

The work of these students will be adjudicated, with the potential of receiving special awards and recognition at the IHSAE Awards Ceremony and Reception Event, which is open to the public, and is on Sunday, March 13th, 2022 from 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Bridgeport Art Center. Come out to see the incredible work by all of the student artists, and to cheer on our Maine West artists in the show! HERE is the schedule of events for the day.

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP EXHIBITION

Four Maine West senior artists submitted portfolios to the Senior Scholarship Exhibition, an exhibit of some 300 senior artworks and a scholarship program that offers college tuition scholarships totaling over $119 million dollars. 

The students from Maine West who were offered art scholarships for a combined amount of $1,156,000 are: 

Mya Caceres
Joanna Contreras
Jack Dinse
Kyra Harrington

Representing West at the Senior Exhibition is:

Kyra Harrington

Lastly, the IHSAE Art Throwdown is an in person Art Competition with approximately 30 students competition to showcase their creative talents in front of a live audience. Representing West in the Throwdown Challenge is:

Kyra Harrington

Zensanna Yost

Enjoy the submissions by West artists below:

Weronika Kmieć (Painting)

Laura Grahn (Mixed Media)

Natalia Habczyk (Drawing)

Zensanna Yost (Digital Art)

Gabriela Szewczyk (Photography)

Kyra Harrington (Senior Exhibition)

Congratulations to the Maine West Choirs on Their Inspiring Spring Concert! #207Now @mainewestchoir #musiced #choir #sing #useyourvoice @desplainesparkdistrict #prairielakes

Congratulations to the students in the Maine West Choirs, as well as their directors, Mr. Jim Schiffer and Ms. Shayna Lee (student teacher)! Last night's concert was absolutely inspiring, and lifted the spirits of everyone in attendance! 

Thank you to the Des Plaines Park District for hosting us in the Prairie Lakes Theater! Your beautiful space was a perfect venue for our choral concert, and your staff was amazing!

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 

PROGRAM

Choraliers

M.L.K by U2, arr. Marty Sirvatka

White Winter Hymnal by Robin Pecknold, arr. Alan Bilingsley

Good Old A Capella by L. Carter & O. Nevada, arr. Deke Sharon 

Mixed Chorus

Come Travel With Me by Scott Farthing

Nine Hundred Miles by Philip E. Silvey (guest conducted by student Ali Krieger)

Shine On Me by Traditional, arr. Rollo Dilworth

Vocal Solo Night - Best in Room

Someone Else's Story by Benny Anderson, Tim Rick & Bjorn Ulvaeus (soloist Dulf Vincent Genis)

Concert Choir

What Happens When a Woman? by Alexandra Olsavsky

Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre

Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel? by Traditional, arr. Moses Hogan

Chamber Choir

Tshotsholoza! (Go Forward!) by Traditional, arr. Jeffrey Ames

Flight Song by Kim André Arnesen

He'll Make A Way by Byron J. Smith

Combined Choirs

The Awakening by Joseph M. Martin

More pictures from the Spring Choir Concert can be found HERE. 

A video from the concert can be found on the WMTH YouTube Channel HERE.

Join Us for Maine West Choir's Spring Concert! #207Now #sing @mainewestchoir

Join us for an evening of beautiful music by the Maine West Choirs! The concert is on Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00 p.m. at Des Plaines Park District's Prairie Lakes Theatre (515 E. Thacker St. Des Plaines, IL 60016). The concert will feature music by the Choraliers, Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir, and Chamber Choir, as well as the "Best of Day" soloist from Vocal Solo Night, Dulf Vincent Genis.

For friends and family not able to make the live performance, a live-stream will be available on the WMTH YouTube Channel HERE.

Congratulations to the District 62 Bands on their Performances at the MW/D62 Band Festival! #207Now #62learns #62workingtogether @62schools @Algonquin.DesPlaines @iroquois_school

Today, the Maine West Band program welcomed 7th and 8th grade band students from three District 62 schools: Chippewa, Iroquois and Algonquin. Each band performed one piece at the festival, and after the performance, Mr. Gerstmayr gave each band a clinic on their piece. At the end of the festival, students performed alongside Maine West Band students on a piece.

Chippewa, Iroquois and Algonquin Band Students 
(aka Future Warrior Band Members): 
Bravo on a fantastic performance at the festival! We can't wait to welcome you as members of the Warrior Band!

HERE are more photos from today's festival.

Maine West's BEYOND THESE WALLS Art Exhibit Features Artwork Created OUTSIDE of the Classroom by Students #207Now #art #artislife @mainewestart @lahartanddesign #creativityfuelsthefuture #independentlearning #selfmotivation

There is a new art exhibit this year - Beyond These Walls - a curated sampling of art created by West students OUTSIDE of the walls of West. Many students at West create art - with a variety of media - outside of the school day. Some students even sell their art to the community or via sites like Etsy. This art exhibit is an opportunity for self-motivated artists at West to showcase the work they are doing independently. 

You are encouraged to check out the exhibit in lower E wing!

A HUGE thank you to Ms. Lahart for organizing this wonderful exhibit and opportunity for the students of Maine West!

Congratulations to the Performers at Maine West's Vocal Solo Night! #207Now #sing #useyourvoice @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab

Congratulations to the vocal soloists who performed spectacularly at Maine West Vocal Solo Night! This event, organized by Mr. Schiffer, provides singers in the Maine West Choir program the opportunity to sing with an accompanist for a judge who then provides valuable feedback, in a masterclass style and setting. Thank you to Mr. Matthew Hanes, South High Choir Director, for being an amazing adjudicator, and for providing such valuable feedback. We all learned so much about singing through your thoughtful and insightful comments.

HERE are photos from tonight's event.