The Maine West media arts program participates annually in the Midwest Media Educators' Association Film Festival. This year, Maine West film students had 12 entries qualify for the final round, and incredible achievement that distinguishes these students as some of the best filmmakers in the region!
Of the 12 entries, two of our videos earned awards:
Katie Huk - Placed First in the Demonstration Video category:
Ray Copeland and Danielle Escobar - Placed Fifth in the Demonstration Video category:
This year, Yulien Morgado made history by proudly representing Maine West High School as a guitarist at the inaugural ILMEA Mariachi Honors Festival! Sponsored by the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA), and hosted at South Elgin High School, this brand-new event celebrated the incredible tradition of mariachi music while giving students across the state a platform to shine.
Yulien spent the day rehearsing with expert clinicians, connecting with peers who share a love for mariachi music, and performing in a dynamic final concert. The energy, pride, and musicianship on stage were absolutely inspiring!
Congratulations, Yulien! We are so proud of you!
More pictures from the ILMEA Mariachi Honors Festival can be found HERE.
What an unforgettable opening night! Our spring play, A Monster Calls, based on the novel by Patrick Ness and adapted by Sally Cookson and Adam Peck, roared to life with a performance that was raw, powerful, and deeply moving. Every moment on stage was packed with emotion, thanks to a cast and crew who poured their hearts into telling this beautiful and haunting story.
The audience was captivated from the first light cue to the final bow. From the stunning visuals and imaginative staging to the emotional depth brought by our student performers, it was clear: this is a show that stays with you.
Huge shoutout to our dedicated director, Ms. Judy Klingner, costume designer, Ms. Marquecia Jordan, and the costume crew, the tech team led by Mr. Peter McManus, and every student who brought this story to life. We’re so proud of what you've created! If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss your chance!
There are two more opportunities to see A Monster Calls:
Friday, April 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are available at bit.ly/MWBoxOffice.
More pictures from tonight's performance can be found HERE.
You can view the program HERE.
Thank you to all of our Maine West Fine Arts Booster volunteers who are helping with this production!
Today, Music Production students from Maine West and Maine East came together for an exciting, all-day DJ workshop! Led by professional DJs and producers Fausto Lopez and Armando Perez—two talented artists from Chicago—students explored the fundamentals of DJing and got hands-on experience mixing tracks, beatmatching, and experimenting with gear.
The energy was high, and the creativity was flowing! Fausto and Armando shared their industry knowledge, offered real-time feedback, and inspired students with their passion and artistry.
This workshop is just one example of how we’re expanding access to music technology and giving students opportunities to learn directly from working professionals in the field. We’re so proud of our students for diving in and trying something new!
This workshop would not have been possible without the generous support of the Maine Township High School Foundation, who provided the financial support needed to bring in today's guests artists.
The walls of Maine West were shaking tonight as students from our Guitar classes and their friends took the stage and lit up the lower commons with a full-blown rock show! These student musicians didn’t just strum a few chords—they formed full bands, plugged in, and brought down the house with an exciting mix of rock, folk, grunge, metal, and indie covers.
The concert featured student-led bands made up of guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists, and vocalists, all working together to bring each set to life. Each group had the freedom to choose their songs and rehearse during class and after school, and their energy on stage was electric!
We’re incredibly proud of how these students collaborated, took musical risks, and brought such heart to their performances. Nights like these are what music education is all about—building confidence, community, and a lifelong love of music.
A huge congratulations to all of the musicians!
Thanks to everyone who came out to tonight's concert and provided our musicians with an enthusiastic and energetic audience!
HERE are more pictures from tonight's show!
Tonight we had the joy of attending the Central Suburban League (CSL) Art Exhibit public reception at the Highland Park Art Center—and wow, what an inspiring evening! The exhibit showcases exceptional student artwork from all of the area high schools in the CSL, highlighting the creativity, technical skill, and unique voices of young artists in our school communities.
This show is such a meaningful celebration of student voice and expression. Every piece in the exhibit reflects the time, care, and passion these students have poured into their work. From ceramics and painting to digital art and photography, the variety and depth on display are a powerful reminder of how important it is to give students the opportunity to create and be seen.
A huge thank you to the Highland Park Art Center for hosting, and to the teachers, families, and community members who came out to support these young artists. And of course—congratulations to all the students whose work is on display!
More pictures from the CSL Exhibit can be found HERE.
