Maine West Artist, Ash Carmichael, a Winner of Sun-Times' "The Imagination Project" Art Contest! #207Now #artcontest @Suntimes @mainewestart @lahartanddesign @mainewestfab

Ash Carmichael's piece, Spring is Near, has been named a winner of the Sun-Times' The Imagination Project art contest! 

Read the article about this contest in the Sun-Times HERE. In the article, two Chicago artists, Cheri Charlton and Molly Z., who reviewed the submissions, commented on Ash's work: Ms. Carlton said,“[Ash's] piece is an excellent example of artistic skill both technically and conceptually. I love all the attention to detail you see in the blades of grass, flowers and leaves. The storytelling is quite strong, too. We see a metaphor for the passage of time/seasons/life being created. It’s all heightened by the beautiful, atmospheric details in the sky through the way the clouds are drawn and the way light is used on the far right side of the piece.”

Molly Z. commented, “What an interesting study of the seasons, the passage of time and the beauty and uniqueness of nature! I like how [Ash] is exploring various techniques to render the details, creating both a realistic and mystic quality. This is such an amazing start at portraying how light interacts on the smallest of forms in nature.”

Congratulations, Ash! We are so proud of you!

Congratulations to Band & Choir Students on a Wonderful Spring Concert! #207Now #musiceducation #musicinspires @mainewestband @mainewestchoir @wmth_mainewest @mainewesttechcrew @mainewestfab

Congratulations to the students in the Maine West band and choir programs on an incredible final concert of the school year! Each group performed with tremendous musicianship and demonstrated significant musical growth! 

All In Choir's performance brought down the house!

Will Beckman performed the 3rd movement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Trombone Concerto beautifully!

Congratulations to the Class of 2022! Mr. Gerstmayr and Mr. Schiffer honored members of the senior class, and recognized select students for their exemplary leadership and musicianship:

Semper Fidelis Award
Elena Bu & Alexis Delgado

Director's Award for Leadership in Choir

Pavlina Panagiotidis & Alexis Delgado

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award

William Beckman

National School Choral Award

Alexandra Krieger

John Phillip Sousa Award

Andrew Stutheit

Arion Award for Musical Excellence

Alexandra Krieger (Band) & Dulf Vincent Genis (Choir)

PROGRAM

Jazz Band

Theme from "Peter Gunn" by Henry Mancini, arr. Murtha

Mr. Blue Sky by Jeff Lynne, arr. Holmes

Take Five by Paul Desmond, arr. Lewis

Mixed Chorus

For Good from Wicked by Stephen Schwartz, arr. Huff

Soloists: Jaiden Maisonet, Addison Stutheit, Linzey Lucas & Irene Han

Symphonic and Concert Bands

Fanfare for a New Age by Michael Story

Happy Birthday, Ludwig! arr. Wagner

Shakespeare Meets Godzilla by Robert Buckley

All In Choir

We're Gonna Shine by Stuart Scotts and Tom Pease

Soloists: Ryan Wieczorkiewicz, Ali Krieger, Eamon McHugh & Haven Wallgren Lemmerman

Percussion Ensemble

Stool Pigeon by Julie Davila

Concert Choir

Taylor, The Latte Boy by Heisler & Goldrich, arr. Huff

Soloists: Emma Ohlson, Sage Miller, Amelia Foy & Nanty Chavez Amezcua

Percussion Techniques

Helix by Eric Rath

Chamber Choir

Somebody to Love by Freddie Mercury, arr. Emerson

Soloists: Dulf Vincent Genis, Jessica Mueller, Colin Jones, Aiden Williamson & Gabi Febus

Percussion Techniques

Mi Milagro by Ralph Hicks

Senior Choir Song

I Lived by Tedder & Noel, arr. Narverud

Jazz Band

Manteca by Dizzy Gillespie, arr. Sweeney

Angel Eyes by Matt Dennis, arr. Horney

Moanin' by Charles Mingus, arr. Homzy

Choraliers

One Call Away by Charlie Puth, arr. Sharpe

Soloists: Naomi Abraham, Alexis Delgado, Haven Wallgren Lemmerman & Ali Krieger

Wind Ensemble

Theme from "The Mandalorian" by Ludwig Goransson, arr. Murtha

Trombone Concerto in B♭ Major, III. Allegro by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, arr. Oliver

William Beckman, trombone

El Choclo (Argentine Tango) by A.G. Villoldo, arr. Longfield

Combined Choirs

We Don't Talk About Bruno by Lin-Manuel Miranda, arr. Brymer

Soloists: Alexis Diaz, Josh Hernandez, Mr. Gerstmayr, Julia Braswell & Natalia Cardona

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

If you missed tonight's concert and would like to view it, please visit our WMTH-West YouTube Channel.

A tremendous thanks to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters and parent volunteers for helping at tonight's concert!

Thanks to Mr. Peter McManus and the Auditorium Crew Technicians for your help with the sound and lights!

Thanks to Ms. Rebecca Orr and the WMTH crew for filming tonight's concert!

You're Invited to the Final Band & Choir Concert of the Year - Tomorrow, May 5th at 7:00 p.m.! #207Now #musiceducation #concert @mainewestband @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab @mwactivities

 

Tomorrow, Thursday May 5th at 7:00 p.m. in the Maine West Auditorium, please join us for the Spring Band & Choir Concert! Admission is free.

For friends, family and fans not able to attend in person, we will have a video of the concert available on the WMTH - West YouTube Channel. Thanks to Ms. Rebecca Orr and her broadcasting team for filming the concert!

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.

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!

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.