McCracken Band featured in Skokie Review
In case you missed it, the Skokie Review included an article about the Symphonic Band last week! We’ve been recently interviewed by the Skokie Patch as well. Stay tuned for that one!
Posted: June 13, 2011 | PermaLink
Happy McCracken Middle School Band Day!
Tonight, at the Village Board Meeting, Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen will declare today (June 6, 2011) “McCracken Middle School Band Day” in the Village of Skokie. We’ll post the full text of the resolution when we’ve received it!
So…Happy McCracken Middle School Band Day everyone!
Posted: June 6, 2011 | PermaLink
All Bands Concert
Congratulations to all of the McCracken MIddle School and Middleton Elementary School for a FABULOUS All-Bands Concert last night. All the groups performed so musically and maturely. Thanks to the MANY, MANY parents who helped organize the post concert reception. It was a wonderful evening!
Posted: May 17, 2011 | PermaLink
2011 Superstate Concert Band Festival
Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their tremendous performance, and selection as Honor Band, at the 2011 University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival. This is the fourth time the Symphonic Band has received this prestigious honor. Your hard work and dedication to excellence certainly paid off. Congratulations for continuing the wonderful tradition of quality bands at McCracken.
With our selection as Honor Band at the 2011 Superstate, the Symphonic Band receives and automatic invitation to perform at the 2012 Superstate Concert Band Festival!!!!
Posted: May 13, 2011 | PermaLink
2011 IGSMA State Festival
Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their outstanding performance at the 2011 Illinois Grade School Music Association State Festival Friday night. The Symphonic Band was given special recognition by IGSMA by being selected as an “honors” ensemble at our contest site. McCracken was extremely well represent at State with the 7th Grade Singers and McCracken Swing Choir also receiving the “honors” recognition.
Great job everyone!!!
Posted: April 30, 2011 | PermaLink
In Memorium: Mark Rymer
Mark Rymer, Band Director at Zion-Benton Township High School, passed away suddenly this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with his young family during this truly difficult time.
Mark Christian Rymer, 34, passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, April 25, 2011.
Mark was born March 7, 1977 in Waukegan, IL. He attended Zion Elementary Schools where his interests in sports and music were realized along with academic honors. Mark was a student of piano at Zion Conservatory Of Music throughout grade school and high school. At Zion-Benton Township High School (Z-B) he was a 3-sport athlete (golf, basketball, and baseball) and honed his musical skills which prepared him for a Northern Illinois University Music Education Major, graduating in 2000. While at Northern Illinois he was active in Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity. He was a music educator/band director at Lake Bluff Elementary School then became Director of Bands at Zion-Benton Township High School. In 2009 he earned his Masters Degree in Music Education at Vandercook School Of Music in Chicago.
He was a charter member, officer, and musically involved in Zion’s Full Score Orchestra as well as church music at First United Methodist Church of Waukegan in trumpet and vocal work. [more]
Posted: April 28, 2011 | PermaLink
IGSMA State Festival Performance Times
We just received our contest site assignments from the IGSMA State Office. The McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band and Choirs will be performing Friday, April 29 at Grayslake Middle School, Grayslake, Illinois.
The Symphonic Band performs at 4:00p. 7th Grade Singers, 5:40p. 8th Grade Singers 6:50p. and McCracken Swing Choir 8:20p.
Posted: April 4, 2011 | PermaLink
2011 Superstate
Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their 9th consecutive invitation to the University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival. Lot’s of work to do, get practicing!
More info (performance times, etc…) when we have it.
Dear Chip,
On behalf of the University of Illinois Bands faculty and staff, I would like to extend my most sincere CONGRATULATIONS on your invitation to participate at the 2011 SuperState Band Festival! You are to be commended for this outstanding achievement and the level of performance demonstrated by your ensemble. As you are well aware the University of Illinois Superstate Band Festival is the premiere concert event of its type in the state of Illinois. This tradition continues because of the diligent and artistic music education occurring under your direction. Because of your hard work you exemplify the highest quality of music education in our state.
Please take a moment to carefully read all of the information in the GENERAL INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES attachment. In addition, detailed instructions regarding the 2011 SuperState Festival can also be found on our website at www.bands.illinois.edu. It is imperative that you follow all of the instructions and meet all deadlines.
We wish you the very best of luck as you prepare for this important performance at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts during the weekend of May 6th and 7th, 2011 for our world-class panel of adjudicators which includes, Gary Green, Craig Kirchhoff, Evan Feldman and John Whitwell. More information about our adjudicators can also be found on the UI Bands website.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I can be reached at 217-333-3025 (office) or by email: aramirz@illinois.edu.
An official letter of invitation will also be mailed to you at your school’s address. We look forward to hosting you on the University of Illinois campus in May.
Best regards,
Abel S. Ramirez, DMA
(3 attachments)
Abel S. Ramirez, SuperState Festival Coordinator
Assistant Director of Bands
Associate Professor of Music
University of Illinois School of Music
Posted: April 1, 2011 | PermaLink
In the Press • March 30, 2011
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- MENC has started a new Music Advocacy Website Groundswell: For today’s students to succeed tomorrow, they need a comprehensive education that includes music taught by exemplary music educators [MENC Groundswell]
- One of astronaut, Colonel Catherine “Cady” Coleman’s personal items on the International Space Station? Her flute [Powell Flutes • YouTube]
- The Failure of American Teachers [Huffington Post]
Posted: March 31, 2011 | PermaLink
Happy Spring Break! Calendar Issues
Here’s hoping that all members of the McCracken and Middleton Bands have a wonderful (and practice filled) Spring Break!
According to the University of Illinois Band’s website. Superstate Invitations will be emailed on April 1.
The calendar has been updated to reflect that the Symphonic Band will not be performing at the Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival. They didn’t have room for us this year, unfortunately.
The IGSMA State Festival will likely be held on Friday, April 29 in Grayslake. We’ll know for sure once we receive the official assignment from the IGSMA State Office.
Posted: March 28, 2011 | PermaLink