The James Hart Band program enjoyed a fantastic summer, and fall trimester, entertaining large audiences around Homewood-Flossmoor, representing its community with pride and excellence, and having fun making music together. Over the summer, ISYM scholarship recipient James Sperti (tuba) enjoyed a great week of performing, exploring a college campus, and making new friends at the University of Illinois. Meanwhile back in Homewood, the James Hart Symphonic Band held its annual 2-week summer camp in July and August, concluding with a potluck and preview performance for family and friends.
In mid-September, the Symphonic Band opened up its performance slate at Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s annual Youth Night football game. On a beautiful night for football, the band performed alongside the HF Marching Vikings and Parker Band in the pregame and halftime shows, entertaining an audience of thousands with a Jackson 5-themed production, en route to a come from behind HF victory! The end of September also saw the beginning of the season for the James Hart jazz program, which has again includes nearly 50 students from grades 6-8 band, choir, and orchestra in our two ensembles: the Gold Jazz Band and Maroon Jazz Band. In late September, several James Hart band, choir, and orchestra students prepared excerpts to audition for the Illinois Music Education Association District I Honor Ensembles. Korey Mulling was selected to represent our school in this prestigious ensemble, earning the rank of first chair trumpet player on a concert in early November alongside 100 of the finest middle school musicians in a 4-county area. Congratulations go to Korey, and also to band students Dylan Barnas and Darrick Jackson, as well as Jazz Band member Carmella Abramczyk on their selections to the District I Honor Choir and Orchestra, respectively. On Election Day, November 6, the James Hart Bands celebrated our democracy with a patriotic-themed concert saluting America and its veterans. Many family members and friends dotted the nearly-filled James Hart Gymnasium to enjoy music from the Varsity Band, Symphonic Band, and Gold Jazz Band. All three groups are off to a great start this year, and we look forward to great things from them! Later that week, the Symphonic Band performed again at James Hart, this time as part of District 153’s annual Veterans Day festivities. After the veterans entered the gym to a standing ovation from the 8th grade class and a rendition of the national anthem by the Panther Choir and Symphonic Orchestra, the Symphonic Band paid tribute with an arrangement of the service songs of the each of the five branches of the military. The trumpet section also did double duty, performing traditional bugle calls as part of the flag-lowering and flag-folding ceremonies during the day. In addition to a polished performance that impressed students and staff alike, these outstanding youngsters carried themselves professionally all day (and all week) in saluting our community’s service members. In preparation for these patriotic performances, Symphonic Band students had the privilege of receiving a clinic the week beforehand with Kyle Rinke, area middle school band director, and trumpet player with the 85th Division Army Reserve Band of Arlington Heights. After working with the entire band, SSgt. Rinke held a very helpful and memorable masterclass with the trumpet section. For more information about the James Hart Bands and a calendar of events for the year, visit us online at jameshartbands.weebly.com and follow us on Twitter @JamesHartBands. Here are some of the many performances we look forward to during the 2nd trimester of the year:
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