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
2008 Superstate Honor Bands
Congratulations to the schools selected as Honor Bands at the 2008 University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival:
Middle School: Westlake Middle School (Kim Farris, conductor)
Class A HS: Illiana Christian High School (Patricia Menninga, conductor)
Class AA HS: Marian Catholic High School (Greg Bimm, conductor)
Class AAA HS: John Hersey High School (Scott Casagrande, conductor)
Posted: May 3, 2008 | PermaLink
Symphonic Band at Superstate
Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their wonderful performance at the 2008 University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival. We couldn’t be more proud of the work you put into preparing for this performance and the way you represented our school Friday.
Congrats to Westlake Middle School for being named Honor Band for this year’s Superstate!
Posted: May 3, 2008 | PermaLink
In Memorium: Hy Savit
The McCracken Middle School Bands lost a dear friend today. Mr. Hy Savit, former band director and music educator in the Chicago Public Schools, and private teacher to hundreds of Mr. Stahlberg’s and Mr. De Stefano’s students, passed away today.
Mr. Savit, who just recently retired from teaching privately, was an ardent supporter of the McCracken Bands. In his 40+ years our working with our students, it was very rare for him to miss a concert. He will be dearly missed.
The funeral will take place Friday, May 2 at 10am at Chicago Jewish Funeral Chapel located at 195 North Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, 60089.
Posted: April 30, 2008 | PermaLink
2008 Midwest Performers Announced
The Midwest Clinic has just announced the performers for the 2008 Midwest Clinic. Congratulations to the Lockport High School Wind Symphony, Edison MS Jazz Band, and Wheeling High School Jazz Band for being Illinois’s representatives at next year’s conference!
The middle school bands selected were:
Clint Small Middle School Wind Ensemble
Austin, Texas
Paulette Rainey, Conductor
Rising Starr Middle School Symphonic Band
Fayetteville, Georgia
Steven Tyndall, Conductor
Grisham Middle School Band
Austin, Texas
Betty Bierschenk-Pierce, Conductor
Posted: April 29, 2008 | PermaLink
IGSMA State Festival Schedule
We just got our state contest times today! Once again both the band and swing choirs will be performing at Troy Middle School in Plainfield.
The Symphonic Band performs at 2:10. 7th Grade Swing Choir Performs at 3:20, and the 8th Grade Swing Choir Performs at 4:40.
Travel plans and permission slips will go home soon.
Posted: April 2, 2008 | PermaLink
Superstate Schedule
Just got the Superstate performance times today:
Friday, MAY 2, 2008
Junior High/Middle School Combined
1:00 PM Richmond-Burton HS (Class A)
1:30 PM Edison Middle School
2:00 PM Hickory Creek Middle School
2:30 PM McCracken Middle School
3:00 PM Westlake Middle School
3:30-3:45 PM BREAK
3:45 PM MacArthur Middle School
4:15 PM Hadley Junior High
4:45 PM Troy Middle School*
5:15-6:15 PM DINNER BREAK
Class A
6:15 PM Illiana Christian
6:45 PM Macomb Senior High
7:15 PM Paxton-Buckley-Loda
7:45 PM Canton*
8:15 PM JR/MS & Class A Awards
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008
Class AA
8:00 AM Champaign Central
8:30 AM Pontiac Township
9:00 AM Marian Catholic
9:30 AM Vernon Hills
10:00 AM Washington Community
10:30-10:45 AM BREAK
10:45 AM Glenbard South*
Class AAA
11:15 AM Warren Township
11:45 AM West Aurora
12:15 PM Fremd
12:45-1:45 PM LUNCH BREAK
1:45 PM Naperville North
2:15 PM Wheeling
2:45 PM Waubonsie Valley
3:15 PM John Hersey
3:45 – 4:00 PM BREAK
4:00 PM Lockport Township
4:30 PM New Trier
5:00 PM Glenbard East
5:30 PM Libertyville*
6:00-6:15 PM BREAK
6:15 PM U. of Illinois Wind Symphony
6:45 PM Class AA and AAA Awards
(*)honor band from 2007 Festival
Posted: April 1, 2008 | PermaLink
Superstate Invitation
Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for being invited, by audition, to participate in the 2008 University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival! Superstate will take place on Friday, May 2, 2008 at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on U of I’s campus.
March 25th, 2008
Dear 2008 Superstate Concert Band applicant,
On behalf of University Bands and the School of Music, I would like to thank you for your recent application to the 2008 Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival. The number of applicants was again higher (62) than the previous year and, as always, the performance level of the audition CDs was exceptional. You are to be congratulated for your contributions to our field and to the musical education of your students.
My sincere thanks to this year’s tape adjudication panel for their evaluation of your performance:
Dr. George Brozak, Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands, University of South Carolina
Dr. Stephen Gage, Director of Bands, Youngstown State University
Dr. R. Mark Heidel, Director of Bands, The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The following schools (listed in alphabetical order) have been selected by recorded audition for participation in the 2008 Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival:
Jr. High/Middle School
Edison MS
Hadley JR
Hickory Creek MS
MacArthur MS
McCracken MS
Westlake MS
Troy MS*Class A
Illiana Christian
Macomb Sr.
Paxton-Buckley-Loda
Richmond-Burton
Canton*Class AA
Champaign Central
Marian Catholic
Pontiac Township
Vernon Hills
Washington Community
Glenbard South*Class AAA
Fremd
Glenbard East
John Hersey
Lockport
Naperville North
New Trier
Warren Township
Waubonsie Valley
West Aurora
Wheeling
Libertyville*(*) 2007 Honor Band
If a selected ensemble is unable to participate, please contact Daniel Neuenschwander upon receipt of this mailing so that an alternate band may be assigned.
It is regrettable that a limitation exists in our physical facilities, which does not permit the acceptance of every interested band. We sincerely believe however, that the Superstate Festival will continue to be a positive motivational goal for all interested in this unique educational experience.
Thank you for your continued interest and support of this program.
Sincerely,
Daniel Neuenschwander
Assistant to the Director of Bands
Coordinator-Band Festivals
University of Illinois
Posted: March 25, 2008 | PermaLink
Niles North HS Incoming Band Parents Meeting
There is an incoming parents meeting for 8th grade parents at Niles North High School on Monday, March 31 starting at 7:00 PM in the band room. Students are welcome to attend.
Questions? Contact Mr. Eisele.
Posted: March 22, 2008 | PermaLink