4.29.2022

Art Awards BBQ & NAHS Induction - A Wonderful Celebration of Achievement! #207Now #art #awards @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @mainewestfab

 


On Thursday, April 28th, Visual Art students gathered for an end-of-year celebration of achievement at the Art Awards BBQ & National Art Honor Society induction ceremony.

Students tie-dyed t-shirts and enjoyed a dinner grilled by grill master Mr. Cammarata. 
The evening ended with the acknowledgement of newly inducted members into the National Art Honors Society.
Congratulations to all of the visual art students on your achievements this year! 

A special thanks to all of the art teachers: Mr. Cammarata, Ms. Kljajic, Ms. Lahart and Ms. Lloyd for organizing this wonderful celebratory event!

More pictures from the Art Awards BBQ can be found HERE.








4.28.2022

The Des Plaines Choral Festival: A Huge Success! #207Now #62learns #choir #collab @62schools @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab

Today, Maine West welcomed over 275 singers from District 62 schools to the Des Plaines Choral Festival. The students participated in a variety of rehearsals with Mr. Jim Schiffer (Maine West's Choir Director) and with guest conductor, Dr. Jason Hawkins from Western Illinois University. 

Maine West students talked with all the District 62 students about singing at West and the opportunities they will have in high school!

The elementary choirs, middle school choirs and high school choirs all performed their own pieces, and then combined together for a massive finale, Walk Through Life by Pinkzebra. Here is a a glimpse of this finale from the rehearsal:


Thank you to all of the music teachers for collaborating and making this event happen!

More pictures from today's festival can be found HERE


Brandon Podjasek Visits Percussion Techniques Class #207Now #percussion #musiceducation #guestartist @mainewestband @mainewestfab

On April 27th, students in the Percussion Techniques class had the opportunity to work with guest clinician Brandon Podjasek from North Park University. The focus of Mr. Podjasek's clinic was percussion technique. He reviewed common weaknesses in percussion technique and explained how to execute various fundamentals with proper technique, demonstrating the resulting sound when played properly. Students walked away with many useful tips that will immediately improve their playing!

Thank you to Mr. Podjasek for sharing your time and talents with the Maine West percussionists!

Thank you to Mr. Gerstmayr for making this opportunity happen!

4.27.2022

Maine West Welcomes D62 String Players to the Des Plaines Orchestra Festival! #207Now #orchestra #musiceducation #futurewarriors @mworchestras @62schools

Today, Maine West welcomed students from the area Des Plaines middle schools: Chippewa, Algonquin and Iroquois to the Des Plaines Orchestra Festival. Each school performed one piece and Ms. Valdez gave some valuable feedback and performance tips and then rehearsed with each ensemble. The Maine West Orchestras then performed some pieces from last night's Masterworks Concert. 



The orchestra students and teachers were treated to a wonderful performance by guest artist, Caitlin Edwards, who also spoke to the students about her journey and career as a musician. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with us, Ms. Edwards!

This morning's event was a wonderful celebration of music, and we are looking forward to welcoming all of the District 62 string players to the Maine West Orchestra in the years to come!

More pictures from the Des Plaines Orchestra Festival can be found HERE









4.26.2022

Congratulations to the Maine West Orchestra Students on an Incredible Masterworks Concert! #207Now #orchestra #musiceducation @mworchestras @mainewestfab

Tonight, students in the Maine West Orchestra program performed their final concert of the year, the Masterworks Concert, masterfully!

PROGRAM

Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra, arr. Wong (Warrior Strings)
Arachnid's Lair by Kirt Mosier (String Orchestra)
Andante Festivo by Jean Sibelius (String Orchestra)
Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youth, arr. Snowsun (Warrrior Strings featuring vocalist Dulf Vincent Genis)
Waltz of the Wicked by Kirt Mosier (Philharmonic Orchestra)
Air for Strings by Norman Dello Joio (Philharmonic Orchestra)
Symphony No. 5, II. Allegretto by Dmitri Shostakovich, arr. Keiser (Philharmonic & String Orchestras)
Love Story by Taylor Swift, arr. Genis (Warrior Strings)
String Quartet No. 3, Mvt. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich (Symphony Orchestra)
Devil's Tango by Leonard Ingrande (Symphony Orchestra)
Overture to The Barber of Seville by Giacomo Rossini, arr. Isaac (Symphony Orchestra with members of the Wind Ensemble)

CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022!

Ms. Valdez recognized the members of the senior class for their contributions to the Maine West program, and awarded two seniors leadership awards:

Dulf Vincent Genis received the National School Orchestra Award
Gus Freitag received the Arion Award

Thank you to all of the parents and caregivers who volunteered with the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters tonight!

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

If you missed the concert, and would like to watch the livestream, visit the WMTH YouTube Channel HERE.




4.25.2022

Join Us for the Orchestra Masterworks Concert 4/26 at 7:00 p.m. #207Now #musiceducation #orchestra @mworchestras @mainewestfab @mwactivities

 

Please join us for the final orchestra concert of the 21-22 school year, the Masterworks Concert! The concert will be on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Maine West Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free.

For friends, family and friends not able to be in attendance, the program will be live-streamed our the WMTH YouTube Channel HERE.  

Congratulations to the Students Inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society! #207Now #Tri-M #honor #musiceducation @mworchestra @mainewestband @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab @mwactivities

Congratulations to the students from the Maine West music programs who were inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society on April 25, 2022! Membership into this international Honor Society is based on three primary characteristics: leadership, service and character. The students below have all demonstrated these admirable qualities, and have accepted their nomination into this prestigious organization.

2022 TRI-M INDUCTEES

Alondra Alvarado Munoz
Xenia Bidash
Madison Blancas
Aubrey Brown
Nantania Chavez
Juliana Doan
Rohan Doma
Michaelangelo Eldridge
Gemima Eyeson
Amelia Foy
Bethsy Galvan
Aaron Grata
Natlia Habczyk
Lex Haliotis
Will Han
Colin Jones
Linzey Lucas
Sage Miller
Teagan O'Connor
Emma Ohlson
Georgios Panagiotidis
Vivian Perez-Leyva
Cali Santos
Manuel Santos Melchor
Nathan Sommerfelt
Jasmin Soriano
Zonna Todorovska
Haven Wallgren Lemmerman
Adelaide Webb
Sara Zogman

2021-2022 STUDENT OFFICERS

Alexandra Krieger, President
Will Beckman, Officer
Gus Freitag, Officer
Morgan Ramirez, Officer
Dulf Vincent Genis, Officer

Thank you to the Maine West chapter faculty sponsor, Mr. Jim Schiffer, for all of his work with the Tri-M Music Honor Society!

More pictures from today's induction ceremony can be found HERE

A copy of the induction ceremony program can be found HERE.