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Health & Fitness

D146 Symphonic Band Wins State's Top Band Award

It’s been a stellar year for School District 146 Central Middle School’s band members. The talented and dedicated group received top honors at the May 9 SuperState Illinois 2014 Band Festival held at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Illinois Champaign campus. This title win comes off April’s participation in the Illinois State University Band Invitational where the CMS Symphonic Band was given the competition’s top title Grand Champion.

The band was given the nod to perform at the May 9 UIUC event as one of nine middle school bands chosen statewide. The school’s Symphonic Band prepared well, under the guidance of Director Jason Freeland, for their biggest performance of the year and a chance to earn the State’s most coveted band title.

The event takes place each May at the University of Illinois. To be considered a band must record a performance of various styles of music and submit for adjudicators, who are college level educators from states other than Illinois, to evaluate. Mr. Jason Freeland, Symphonic Band Director at Central said, “Only the schools with the highest scores from the original submission process are invited to perform at this prestigious May event. Merely being selected as one of the nine bands is a supreme honor in and of itself.”

At the May 9 event nationally renowned judges rated each of the nine schools that performed based on performance abilities before crowning Central Middle School with 1st place. First place winners will perform at the Illinois SuperState 2015 Concert Band Festival as the “Honors Band”. Judges at the event were Paula Crider from the University of Texas-Austin (retired), Col. John Bourgeois for the United States Marine Band (retired), Gary Smith from the University of Illinois (retired) and Thomas Leslie from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Mr. Freeland stated, “I am so proud of these students and their accomplishments this year. The leadership and teamwork throughout the ensemble led them to such high achievements. I was really touched by their performance at SuperState – the students played with such passion and emotion. I could not be any more proud of them.” He continued with a laugh, “And suddenly having to leave for Champaign at 4am only to play at 8am does not even matter anymore. They wanted that win, they earned it and they 100% deserved it.”

Dr. Jeff Stawick, District 146 Superintendent said, “To be able to perform at SuperState is a near impossibility. Just to be chosen to perform as one of the 9 bands out of 800 in the entire state is more than an honor. To be chosen as the overall winner of the event is simply mind blowing. Mr. Freeland’s dedication to his craft is beyond admirable. The level of dedication from these amazing students is a credit to their quality, hard work, and character. The students loaded onto a bus bound for Champaign while most of us were still sleeping. They performed like professionals and won the entire festival. Outstanding job and well done to that entire team. They make District 146 so proud.”

The band received a warm welcome home on Friday late afternoon as the Tinley Park Police and Fire Department escorted them back to school sirens blazing and cars horns blaring. Students, parents, staff, administration and school board members gathered at CMS to welcome the Symphonic Band back as State Champions.

The following students are part of the Central Middle School Symphonic Band SuperState 2014 Honor Band:

  • Flutes: Nicole Bargamian, Lauren Barry, Cameron Bilek, Noelle Doody, Victoria Soliz, Lynn Stevenson
  • Oboe: Grace Caserio
  • Bassoon: T.J. Graham
  • Clarinets: Erica Blakely, Meaghan Daugherty, Madison Greenhill, Matthew Hendricks, Ethan Hoehler, Matthew Joren, Jacob Kienzle, Daniel Scurek, John Sikorski, Ryan Swims, Olivia Walker, Nick Walzel
  • Cornets: Rosemary Cetera, Madelynn Fischer, Mikey Harms, Alex Humenik, Jackie Jelderks, Kevin Kampwirth, Jacob Kopczyk, Caroline Oczachowski, Vanessa Soliz
  • Saxophones: Katelyn Sanders, Samatha Tuuk
  • French Horns: William Flores, Sean Ford, Jenny Kallenback, Katherine Kusper, Kristen Simental
  • Trombones: Christian Johnson, Ryan Lavin, Cody Molloy, Nathan Ryan
  • Euphonium: Julia Dybala
  • Tubas: Ben Castillo, Kyle Sadowski
  • Percussionists: Kevin Brueggemann, Eric Canning, Carl Holup, Byanka Pantoja, Frankie Wendling
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