2025 Des Plaines Choral Festival #207Now #choir #sing @mainewestchoir @d62schools @mainewestfab

 

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting elementary and middle school students from schools in Community Consolidated School District 62 at Maine West at our annual Des Plaines Choral Festival! During the day, students participated in rehearsals, working with Mr. Nathan Coon and Ms. Stefanie Herrera. 

In the evening, the students filled the spectator gym with their voices, singing beautifully in their individual groups and together! 

Together, hundreds of young musicians shared the joy of singing and celebrated the power of community through music.

Bravo to all the singers and directors for an outstanding performance!

You can view the livestream of the event below:

HERE is the concert program.

HERE is a folder full of pictures.

A huge thank you to our parent volunteers with the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters!

2025 Marching Warriors Showcase #207Now #marchingband #marchingwarriors @mainewestband @mainewestfab

 

The Marching Warriors wrapped up an incredible season this week with their annual Indoor Showcase Concert, featuring their 2025 field show, Redemption for an Outlaw! 

The audience was treated to a powerful performance that brought their Western-inspired story to life with energy, precision, and heart. From expressive brass and soaring woodwinds to the dynamic color guard and driving percussion, every section shined, filling the auditorium with sound.

Additionally, the band played their popular stand tunes and ended the night with the Fight Song.

The showcase not only celebrated months of dedication and teamwork but also highlighted the growth and artistry of each student musician. 

Seniors were given a special acknowledgement for their contributions and leadership to the Marching Warriors.

What a fantastic way to close out the season—congratulations to the Marching Warriors on another unforgettable year!

If you missed the concert, please enjoy the livestream below:

HERE is the program.

HERE is a folder of many more pictures, including pictures of the seniors.

Des Plaines Orchestra Festival 2025 #207Now @mworchestras @mainewestfab

 

This week, our Maine West Orchestra students had the wonderful opportunity to perform alongside all of the middle school orchestra students from District 62 at the annual Des Plaines Orchestra Festival Concert! 

The energy and musicianship on stage was inspiring—from the first notes of the middle school ensembles to the finale featuring all groups combined. Each orchestra performed with confidence and enthusiasm, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our young musicians.

We’re so proud of their hard work and excited to see these future Warriors continue to grow in their musical journey!

If you missed the concert, we invite you to watch the livestream below!

HERE is the program from the concert.

HERE is a folder full of pictures from the concert.

WMTH Unveils a New Broadcast News Desk and Set! #207Now #riversgives #community @wmth_west

 

We have exciting news from the WMTH Broadcasting Program at Maine West High School! Thanks to a generous $20,000 donation from Rivers Casino’s “Rivers Gives” program, along with significant support from the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters and District 207, our student broadcasters now have a brand-new, professional-grade news desk and set!

This upgrade transforms the WMTH studio into a true newsroom environment—giving students hands-on experience with industry-level equipment and enhancing both the quality and professionalism of our productions. From the Warrior Weekly news show to student-led productions, this new setup will help our broadcasters shine on screen while developing real-world media skills.

We are so grateful to Rivers Casino, our Maine West Fine Arts Boosters, and District 207 for investing in our students’ creativity and future!

Four Maine West Musicians Earn All-District Honors! #207Now #ILMEA @mainewestband @mworchestras @mainewestchoir

 

Congratulations to the student musicians from Maine West High School who earned placement, by competitive audition, into the 2025 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-District Band, Choir, and Orchestra. These musicians submitted audition videos to the ILMEA, which were reviewed and scored by a panel of professional musicians. The scores were then ranked, and the top scoring musicians in the region were selected for participation in the District 7 ILMEA Festival, which will be held on Saturday, November 8 at Grayslake North High School for Band, Choir and Orchestra.

Selection to the ILMEA district honors ensembles distinguishes these musicians as some of the best musicians in the region. It is also the result of many hours of practice on the extremely challenging audition material. The Fine Arts Department is extremely proud of these musicians.

We are proud to announce this year's group of musicians who earned placement into the District 7 ILMEA Honors Ensembles:

BAND
Angel Guzman, Clarinet, 12

CHOIR
Danielle Escobar, Alto II, 12
Cristopher Lawpattanapong, Bass I, 12

ORCHESTRA
Lia Cornelius Hernandez, Cello, 10

Opening Night of "The Play That Goes Wrong!" #207Now #theatre @mainewestdrama @mainewestfab

 

Tonight, the Maine West Drama program kicked off its fall production of The Play That Goes Wrong—and it was a hit from the very first scene! The cast and crew delivered an incredible performance packed with energy, perfectly timed chaos, and nonstop laughs.

This show within a show follows the Cornley Drama Society as they attempt to stage a murder mystery where everything that can go wrong… does! From collapsing sets to missed cues, the comedy kept the audience laughing audibly throughout the entire evening. Pulling off this kind of humor takes enormous teamwork, precision, and creativity, and our students absolutely shined.

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on a phenomenal opening night! Performances continue... 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17th - 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th - 7 p.m.

...and tickets are available at mwfinearts.ludus.com. 

Don’t miss this laugh-out-loud production—it’s the kind of show you’ll be talking about long after the curtain falls!

The program for the play can be found HERE.

Many more pictures can be found HERE.

Maine West Welcomes District 62 Marching Bands for an Unforgettable Night! #207Now #marchingband #marchingwarriors @mainewestband @d62schools

Maine West High School had the pleasure of hosting a spectacular Marching Band Night with our friends from District 62! Students, families, and community members came together to celebrate the artistry, dedication, and spirit of these talented musicians.

The night featured incredible performances from Maine West’s own Marching Warriors alongside the outstanding bands from District 62 middle schools. Each ensemble brought its unique energy, filling the spec gym with sound. The collaboration between high school and middle school students highlighted the vibrant band community we have in our district, inspiring younger musicians as they prepare to join the high school programs in the years to come.

Audience members were treated to an exciting mix of tunes, from high-energy pep band favorites to beautifully arranged pieces from this year's marching band show, Redemption For an Outlaw, that showcased the technical skill and musicality of the high school band. 

Events like this underscore the power of music to bring our community together and give students the chance to shine. We are proud of all the students who performed and grateful to the staff and families who make these moments possible. 

Thank you to District 62 teachers and administrators for your collaboration on this event!

HERE is a folder full of more pictures from the event.

The Marching Warriors Earn "Best Crowd Appeal" at the ISU Marching Band Championships! #207Now #marchingband #marchingwarriors @mainewestband @mainewestfab

 

This past Saturday, the Maine West Marching Warriors competed for the first time in the prestigious Illinois State University Marching Band Championships! The Illinois State Marching Band Championships is the state’s premiere invitational event hosting forty-two high school marching bands in preliminary and finals competition. Participating bands are divided into the six classifications determined by the Illinois High School Association school enrollment. Bands are evaluated by the leading clinicians in music education and enjoy the thrill of performing to packed crowds at the incredible Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University.

We are so very proud to announce that the Marching Warriors earned "Best Crowd Appeal" in their class for this year's show, "Redemption For an Outlaw!" Congratulations to all members of the Marching Warriors, and their dedicated directors and staff!

Maine West Marching Band Festival A Resounding Success! #207Now #marchingband #marchingwarriors @mainewestfab @mainewestband

 
The 2025 Maine West Marching Band Festival brought incredible energy and talent to our campus on Saturday, October 4th! With a large crowd of enthusiastic attendees, the event was a celebration of music, teamwork, and school spirit.

We were thrilled to host six outstanding visiting bands, each representing their schools and music programs with pride: Evanston Township’s Wildkit Marching Band, the Geneva High School Marching Vikings, the Belvidere High School Marching Bucs, the Prairie Ridge Wolfpack Marching Band, the Crystal Lake South Marching Gators, and the Fremd High School Viking Marching Band. Each ensemble delivered dynamic performances that showcased their discipline, dedication, creativity, and precision.

Maine West’s own Marching Warriors delivered an incredibly strong performance of this year's show, Redemption For an Outlaw! Both the music and visual formations were executed at a high level. The color guard added stunning visual flair, making the show both powerful and memorable. The entire ensemble demonstrated incredible skill, energy, and teamwork, leaving the audience in awe.

The festival was not only a chance to hear incredible music but also an opportunity for students, families, and our community to come together and celebrate the joy of the marching arts. Maine West is proud to provide this stage for both our students and visiting bands to share their talents! A big "thank you" to Maine West Band Director, Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr, for all of his planning and organization that made this event a success!

We look forward to next year’s festival and the continued growth of our marching band community!

A massive thanks to our volunteer crew with the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters! Without you - this event could never happen!

HERE is a link to the program.

HERE is a link to a folder full of pictures.