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. 

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.

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.