2024 Des Plaines Orchestra Festival #207Now #orchestra #musiceducation @mworchestras @62schools @mwactivities @mainewestfab

Today, Maine West had the pleasure of hosting the Des Plaines Orchestra Festival, where string students from Algonquin Middle School, Chippewa Middle School, Iroquois Community School, and Maine West High School showcased their incredible talents. This festival was not just a performance but an enriching educational experience, as students participated in clinics throughout the day, honing their skills and learning from each other.

The highlight of the clinic was the invaluable guidance provided by Dr. Yvonne Davila-Cortes, our esteemed guest clinician. Her expertise and enthusiasm truly elevated the learning experience for District 62 orchestra students.

This evening's Des Plaines Orchestra Festival Concert was a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the students and their instructors. Each orchestra brought its unique flair, culminating in a stunning collaborative performance of the piece, Battle Charger by Dion Morales. Mr. Morales is not only a composer, but he is the director of the Chippewa Middle School Orchestra! 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the students who participated today, as well as their teachers - Mr. Dominique Radtke, Mr. Dion Morales, Ms. Kristin Vaziri and Ms. Daniella Valdez - for making this educational experience and performance possible. 

HERE is a link to the livestream if you would like to watch the concert.

HERE is the program from tonight's concert.

HERE are more pictures from today's Des Plaines Orchestra Festival.

A huge thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters for supporting tonight's event. We hope that many more of our parents and caregivers will consider supporting the arts by contributing to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters through financial and/or volunteer contributions.

Maine West and District 62 Art Show at the Des Plaines Public Library #207Now #artshow @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @62Schools @mwactivities @mainewestfab

Maine West and District 62 artists will have work featured in the annual D62/MW Des Plaines Library Art Show. Work will be on display from January 19th through February 6th. Come out and enjoy the works of these talented young artists!

Maine West & District 62 Bands Collaborate in the 2024 Band Festival #207now #band #musiceducation @mainewestband @D62schools @mainewestfab

 

Today, Maine West welcomed middle school students from Iroquois Community School, Chippewa Middle School and Algonquin Middle School to participate in the 2024 Maine West & District 62 Band Festival. 

Each middle school band program performed a piece independently, and then all band programs combined together to perform a piece together. Mr. Gerstmayr provided some valuable, individualized feedback to each of the middle school ensembles to help them in their preparation of their pieces.

Thank you to Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr, Maine West Band Director, Ms. Missy Legutki, Algonquin Band Director, Mr. Brian Gavilan, Chippewa Band Director, and Ms. Stephanie Strzalka, Iroquois Band Director for working together to organize this wonderful event for Des Plaines are band students! 

More pictures from today's Band Festival can be viewed HERE.

Maine West's Choir and Orchestra Performs for District 62 and Lee Manor #207Now #musiceducation #partnerschools @mworchestras @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab

 On Thursday, December 14th members of the Maine West Choir and Orchestra programs spent the day touring Algonquin, Chippewa and Iroquois Schools, as well as the Lee Manor Nursing Home. Thank you to the Maine West students for sharing your talents with the community, and a huge shout out to the leaders in District 62 who organized and supported these assembly performances. It was so nice to play for all of your students!

2023 MW/D62 Marching Band Night! #207Now #62Learns @mainewestband @62schools @mainewestfab

 
Tonight, Maine West hosted 7th and 8th grade band students and teachers from Iroquois, Algonquin and Chippewa at the annual MW/D62 Marching Band Night! Our friends from District 62 learned to play the fight song in student-led sectionals earlier in the evening.

At the concert, the Maine West Band performed their show The Architect, among other fan favorites - the fight song and drumline cadences. The District 62 and Maine West Bands joined together to finish the concert in Mega Band Mode and performed a Taylor Swift tune and the Maine West Fight Song!

Congratulations to all of the student musicians and music teachers, especially our friends from District 62! We look forward to welcoming all of you in the Maine West Band program as students soon!

More pictures from tonight's program can be found HERE.

Maine West and District 62 Collaborate on Art Show at the Des Plaines Public Library #207Now #arteducation @mainewestart @lloyd_mwphoto @lahartanddesign2 @cammARTa120 @62schools @mwactivities

Maine West and District 62 artists will have work featured in the annual D62/MW Des Plaines Library Art Show. Work will be on display from January 19th through 31st. Come out and enjoy the works of these talented young artists!

 

Maine West & District 62 Band Students Collaborate! #207Now #musiceducation @mainewestband @mainewestfab @d62schools

On Thursday, January 12th, Maine West had the pleasure of hosting the three middle school band programs from Community Consolidated School District 62 - Chippewa Band, Algonquin Band and Iroquois Band. The students collaborated with members of the Maine West Band program in a day of activities that included clinics, sectionals and a side-by-side "Mega Band" rehearsal.

Thank you to the middle school band directors and Mr. Gerstmayr for your work to make this event happen!

More pictures from today's event can be found HERE.

2023 Des Plaines Orchestra Festival #207Now #musiceducation @mworchestras @D62Schools @mainewestfab

The annual Des Plaines Orchestra Festival, a collaborative event between Maine West and Community Consolidated School District 62 middle schools - Chippewa, Algonquin and Iroquois - was a wonderful success! 

Each group performed one piece independently, and then the concert ended with a massive performance of the combined groups playing Gaelic Castle by Soon Hee Newbold. You can watch a video of the finale below.

A digital concert program can be viewed HERE.

Thank you to the District 62 students and their directors for spending the day at Maine West and for all of your wonderful energy throughout the day of rehearsals, sectionals and clinics. Thanks to the directors for all of the planning and logistical work to make today a success.

We look forward to welcoming all of the future Warrior String players and their families to Maine West!

More pictures from tonight's concert can be found HERE.