Music Awards Celebration Honors a Year of Achievement in the Band, Choir and Orchestra Programs #207Now #awards #community @mainewestband @mainewestchoir @mworchestras @mainewestfab

 

Tonight, music students, teachers and their families celebrated a year of achievement in the band, choir and orchestra programs at the 2024 Music Awards Celebration. The night was filled with acknowledgments of exceptional leadership, musicianship and spirit in the music program. Especially poignant were the speeches by the students, all of which spoke to what the music program means to them, and why it is such an important part of their lives. Perspectives from freshmen through seniors were shared, and it was evident that - no matter where a student is on their journey - their experience in the music program is a significant part of making them who they are and helping them to achieve their goals.

Enjoy the speech given by Addison Stutheit below:

Congratulations to all of the music students on a wonderful year in the music programs at West!

A huge thanks to Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr, Mr. Jim Schiffer and Ms. Daniella Valdez for organizing such a wonderful celebration of achievement and community for the music students and families at West!

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

Band and Choir Spring Concert #207Now #band #choir @mainewestband @mainewestchoir @mworchestras @mainewestfab

 
Congratulations to the students in the band and choir programs on their incredible performances at this evening's Spring Band & Choir Concert!

In addition to performing music that demonstrated a tremendous amount of musical growth over the course of the year, students in the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choirs premiered a piece commissioned by the Maine West music program by composer Elena Specht, entitled "The Power of Music." This commission, written for Maine West with input for the lyrics by Maine West students Colin Jones and Nyxx Chavez, was made possible by a generous grant from the Maine Township High School Foundation. Thank you to the D207 Foundation for making this experience possible for our students and community!

Seniors in the band and choir programs were honored with awards for their contributions to the programs throughout their four years at West.

Thank you to the parents who volunteered with the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters at this concert!

The program from tonight's concert can be found HERE.

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

A huge thanks to Ms. Rebecca Fisher and the WMTH staff for streaming tonight's concert! A livestream of the concert can be viewed below!

Addie Webb, student conductor

Sam Rubio, composer of the piece, "For the Swing of It" performed by the Jazz Band

Haven Wallgren-Lemmerman, student conductor

Masterworks Orchestra Concert 2024 #207Now #orchestra #musiceducation @mworchestras @mainewestfab

 
Tonight, the Maine West String Project, String Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Ms. Daniella Valdez performed their final concert of the 2023-2024 school year, the Masterworks Orchestra Concert.

Ms. Valdez honored the achievements of students throughout the year, especially highlighting contributions by members of the graduating senior class, with an annual awards presentation.

Congratulations to all of the orchestra students on your performance tonight!

Thanks to the parent volunteers with the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters for helping out at tonight's concert!

HERE are more pictures from tonight's concert.

HERE is a link to tonight's program.

Watch a livestream of tonight's concert below! Thanks to the student broadcasters in WMTH and their teacher, Ms. Rebecca Fisher, for filming and producing tonight's concert!

Chamber Music Night 2024 #207Now #chambermusic #strings @mworchestras @mainewestfab @mwactivities

Tonight, Maine West Orchestra students and their director, Ms. Daniella Valdez, presented an evening of chamber music to families and community members. Chamber music is small ensemble music, intended to be performed in a smaller space, or chamber, and not in a large auditorium. The concert, which was held in the Learning Resource Center, featured students performing music from a variety of time periods and in a variety of styles. 

Congratulations to all of the musicians who performed at tonight's concert!

HERE is a link to a folder full of pictures from tonight's concert.

HERE is a link to tonight's program.

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!

Maine West Orchestra Shines at the Illinois ASTA Orchestra Festival! #207Now #musiceducation #orchestra @mworchestras @mainewestfab

On Friday, December 8th, the Maine West Orchestra performed at the prestigious Illinois ASTA (American String Teachers Association) Orchestra Festival, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our sting musicians.

The festival, a key event in the music education calendar, brings together top high school orchestras from across the region. It's a fantastic platform for students to present their skills, learn from their peers, and gain invaluable experience performing in a nurturing environment with excellent clinicians.

The success at the festival is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers. Thank you to Ms. Daniella Valdez for arranging this opportunity for our students!

Dimensions: Identity Concert a Sonic Celebration of Humanity #207Now #musiceducation @mainewestband @mworchestras @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab

Tonight's Dimensions concert was a vibrant celebration of humanity and the intersecting identities of our students and community, showcasing an incredible array of music from various cultures and styles. The theme of this year's Dimensions Art Show and Concert is 'Identity,' and the concert beautifully wove the theme through each performance, highlighting the diverse backgrounds and personal stories of our students.

In touching interludes, students shared their personal "I Am" poems. These readings provided a poignant glimpse into their individual experiences and histories, further emphasizing the theme of identity.

Composer Diana Sáez graciously recorded a video, introducing her piece, 'Plena,' which was performed by the Chamber Choir. 

This concert was more than just a musical showcase; it was a journey through the diverse identities that make our school community so unique and vibrant. It demonstrated the power of music to transcend boundaries, bringing us together in a shared experience of art and culture. This event was a testament to our commitment to providing students with rich, diverse experiences in the arts. We are proud to create spaces where every student can see themselves reflected and celebrated through music.

Thank you to the family, friends and fans in attendance tonight!

A special thanks to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters and all of the parent volunteers for helping in a multitude of ways, and especially for your support of the pizza dinner to feed the over 200 students involved in tonight's production!

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

The program can be found HERE.

Thank you to Ash Carmichael, Fine Arts Graphic Design Intern, for designing this year's Dimensions Concert logo, poster and introductory video!