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 Speech Team Advances to Sectionals! #207Now #speech #forensics @mwspeechteam @mainewestfab @mwactivities @ihsa_il

Congratulations to Tristan Okurowski on placing at the IHSA Speech Regionals! Tristan will be advancing the the IHSA Speech Sectional Tournament on Downers Grove South High School! We are so proud of you, Tristan! Congratulations to the entire Maine West Speech Team and their dedicated coaches, Ms. Gizelle Alverio and Ms. Kristin Imberger on a successful season!

Fine Arts Scholarship Opportunities! #207Now #scholarships @mainewestfab @mwactivities

There are a number of scholarship opportunities available to graduating seniors who have been involved in Fine Arts programs at Maine West. Please see the below scholarship opportunities. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask your Fine Arts teacher or Ms. Mullen, Fine Arts Department Chair. You are encouraged to submit application materials for consideration in advance of the due dates.

The MW Fine Arts Boosters scholarships will be awarded at the Senior Awards Night on May 14, 2024.

MAINE WEST FINE ARTS BOOSTERS SCHOLARSHIPS - Due March 22, 2024

Up to 5 scholarships of $400 each are awarded to college-bound seniors who have been active participants in one or more of the Maine West High School fine arts programs: Band, Choir, Orchestra, Visual Arts, Dance, Drama, Speech and Broadcasting.

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

All applicants for scholarships awarded by the Fine Arts Boosters must:

1) Have a cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.0 or higher through the end of the fall semester senior year.

2) Be active in the Maine West Fine Arts programs for a minimum of 2 years.

3) Complete the FAB scholarship online application in its entirety including the transcript copy by submission deadline.  

4) Provide intention of enrollment to a college or university.  Since this is before the commitment date for most universities, the specific school is not required.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Friday, March 22, 2024.  Only electronic submissions will be accepted.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

HERE is a link to the scholarship application. (Please note, you must use a non-district email address to complete this form.)

If you have any questions, please email them to: MaineWestFineArts@gmail.com

 

Award decisions are made at the sole discretion of the Fine Arts Boosters Scholarship Committee.

SAMANTHA SCHOLARSHIP - Due April 1, 2024

The Samantha Scholarship is a scholarship for high school seniors that honors Samantha Spano, a young woman who lost her life to suicide. Samantha was very artistic and loved painting, drawing and music. This scholarship seeks students who exemplify outstanding character and asks for a submission in some art form (drawing, painting, a collage, poetry, song, photography, etc.) to answer the question: choose your favorite song and explain why it has a special meaning to you. 

For the full application and requirements, go to https://www.forsamantha.org/scholarship-information.

ICONIC LEGACY DANCE SCHOLARSHIP - Due March 31, 2024

The ICONIC Legacy Scholarship was established in 2022 by the Wastyn Family. To honor the senior dancers in the class of 2020, the ICONIC Legacy Scholarship is committed to helping the next dancer in line. The Scholarship supports a 4th year graduating West Side Dance Company member who will be going to a 2- or 4-year college or trade program, and who embodies the spirit that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain!

The second annual Scholarship will be awarded this year to a 2024 West Side Dance Company 4th year member. The application will be open until 3/31/24. Fourth year West Side Dance Company members are invited to apply by clicking on the link below. https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/2024IconicLegacy

Questions? Please contact IconicLegacyScholarship@gmail.com 

INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SCHOLARSHIPS - Open February 1, 2024

The Educational Theatre Foundation, an organization related to the International Thespian Organization, of which many Maine West Drama students are members, sponsors a number of drama-related scholarships each year. For information about the scholarships offered by this organization this year, please go to: https://foundation.schooltheatre.org/scholarships/ 

Maine West Students and Director Honored at the Illinois Theatre Festival! #207Now #excellence @mainewestdrama @illinoistheatreassociation

At this year's Illinois Theatre Festival, Maine West students Penny Wurster and Avery Rizzi and spring play director Ms. Judy Klingner received recognition for their outstanding work.

Penny Wurster participated in the Tech Olympics competition, which asks students to complete a variety of tasks related to technical theatre accurately and in as little time as possible. Penny was able to complete a quick costume change by herself in record time - 18 seconds - placing second in the costume change category! Well done, Penny!

Avery Rizzi was selected by competitive audition into the All-State Improv Team, performing with an elite high school improv team for an audience of over 200 people! Avery said of her experience, "It was cool, especially being the only person in the district represented on the team. It was fun to meet so many people from all over the state!" Well done, Avery, on earning a spot on the state Improv Team! We are so proud of you!

Ms. Judy Klingner was awarded the Legacy Award for her tremendous contributions to theatre education in the state of Illinois. Ms. Klingner taught drama for 34 years, retiring from Fremd High School in 2019. She has held a number of leadership positions with the Illinois Theatre Association, and is currently the President-Elect. Maine West Fine Arts is thrilled to have Ms. Klingner on its artistic staff as the spring play director, and we are so proud that she has been honored by the ITA for her tremendous contributions! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Ms. Klingner!

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.