2008-2009 Calendar
It’s still slightly tentative, but the 2008-2009 Band Calendar has been posted.
Posted: July 17, 2008 | PermaLink
Someone You Should Know
UPDATE: Video Posted
Congratulations to our very own Tom O’Brien, Social Studies teacher at McCracken Middle School for the last 49 years (yes, 49 years), for being featured on Harry Porterfield’s segment Someone You Should Know on WLS-TV (ABC) tonight.
The transcript of the feature is on their website. Hopefully they’ll place the video online soon as well. It’s a very well deserved honor and tribute to Mr. O’Brien who has given so much to the children of our district for almost five decades!
Posted: May 29, 2008 | PermaLink
Middleton Talent Show
Many 4th and 5th grade band students performed their instruments at today’s Middleton Elementary School Talent Show.
Congratulations!
Posted: May 23, 2008 | PermaLink
2008 Midwest Clinic Clinicians Announced
The Midwest Clinic just announced the clinicians for the 2008 conference. Once again, Illinois is very well represented by a wide variety of sessions:
Improving Your Clarinet Section, Top to Bottom
J. Lawrie Bloom
A New Approach to Developing Musicianship: Drawing the Common Thread Throughout Your Rehearsal Using the Right Materials and Teaching Strategies
James Curnow, Joseph Manfredo
Preparing Your Ensemble for Expressive Performance
Robert Sheldon
Sound Reinforcement and Recording of Jazz and Large Ensembles - Practical and Easy to Use Basic and Advanced Ideas
Jim Warrick, Scott Bauer, Mark Morette, Scott Steiner
Four Centuries of Masterworks for Brass Ensemble
Gail Williams
and of course:
Beyond Their Years: Tone, Intonation and the Young Band
Chip De Stefano
Also, congratulations to two of Mr. De Stefano’s friends who also had sessions accepted to next year’s Midwest Clinic:
Digital Recording in Rehearsal: Cheap and Simple
Rick Dammers
Fixing the Front Row: Troubleshooting Your Flute Section
Julie Hobbs
Posted: May 22, 2008 | PermaLink
McCracken Band Alum Featured in The Music Trades
This is from last November, but I just discovered it today. McCracken Middle School Band Alum Mike Balter was the subject of an article entitled “Shaping the Sound of Percussion for 30 Years” in a recent The Music Trades. It’s a fascinating look not only into Mike’s career but into the mallet making business as well.
Posted: May 22, 2008 | PermaLink
2008 Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award
Quinlan and Fabish recently announced the winners of the 2008 Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award. Congratulations to these very deserving teachers:
Debbie Darnell – Merrillville Intermediate School (Merrillville, IN)
Jim Deal – Crown Point HS (Crown Point, IN)
Jim Garbrecht – Hawthorn MS South (Vernon Hills)
John Harshey –West Oak MS (Mundelein)
Bryan Miller – East Leyden HS (Franklin Park)
Brayer Teague – Downers Grove North HS (Downers Grove).
Posted: May 22, 2008 | PermaLink
2009 IMEA All-State Band
Congratulations to Mr. Morrison for being invited to guest conduct the 2009 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Band.
The complete list of guest conductors can be found at the IMEA website.
Posted: May 12, 2008 | PermaLink
Hill Country Middle School Band Webcast
The fabulous Hill Country MIddle School Band under the direction of Cheryl Floyd performing their spring concert May 13, 2008, 7:30 PM (Central) at the University of Texas. This performance is being webcast by the UT School of Music. Particularly exciting is that the Hill Country Symphonic Band, who performed at the Midwest Clinic in 1998 and 2006, will be presenting the world premier of Undertow by John Mackey. Mr. Mackey’s works have really taken the band world by storm the last couple of years. This is his first work for young band (although it’s still very difficult!).
Be sure to check out what will certainly be a fabulous concert!
Posted: May 12, 2008 | PermaLink
Clinic Session invited to 2008 Midwest Clinic
A big congratulations to Mr. De Stefano and the McCracken Middle School Symphonic. Mr. De Stefano was invited to present his clinic session Beyond Their Years: Tone, Pitch and the Young Band at the 2008 Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Clinic. As with IMEA this past year, Mr. De Stefano will be using the Symphonic Band as a demonstration group for this session.
No word as to a possible performance time yet, but we’ll let you know when we know.
Posted: May 8, 2008 | PermaLink
Bandworld Legion of Honor 2008
Mr. De Stefano’s high school band director, Phil Hartman, just received a very prestigious honor from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The Bandworld Legion of Honor was established to recognize the finest band directors in the country. It’s a remarkable, but very well deserved, recognition of Mr. Hartman’s outstanding work throughout his career.
You can find the announcement at Bandworld Online.
Posted: May 5, 2008 | PermaLink