L-W East and L-W North host community concerts

For weeks, neighbors of Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way North high schools have listened patiently as student musicians tooted their horns and marched around the practice fields at each school, learning new routines for the 2008 marching season.

As a thank you for their patience, each school hosted a Community Concert and Ice Cream Social for their neighbors. North’s concert was Aug. 8 while East’s concert was Aug. 14. Both concerts were held in the athletic stadium at each school.

“This is just one small way of saying thank you to our communities that have been so supportive,” said Lincoln-Way East Principal Brenda Jensen. “We invite them to share great music and ice cream.”

“While many of our students have been enjoying their summer vacations with a little relaxation, our marching bands have been working hard – especially these last two weeks – on a new program for the competitive season,” said Lincoln-Way North Principal Michael Gardner. “We appreciate the opportunity to see the results of their hard work and invite the community to share that with us.”

Musicians from both schools returned to the practice room in June and started gearing up for an intensive week of rehearsals and marching exercises at summer band camp.

The Lincoln-Way East Marching Griffins, under the direction of band director Clifton Smith, traveled to Carlinville on July 27 to hone their skills and learn new material for their field show performances.

The Lincoln-Way North Marching Phoenix, under the direction of band director Bert Johnson, used the athletic stadiums at Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way North for its summer band camp July 28-Aug. 1 and Aug. 4-8.

The community had an opportunity see what they learned during the concerts on Aug. 8 and Aug. 14. Drum majors Michael Novak and Sophia Maria Andricopulos (for Lincoln-Way East) and John Fiocca (for Lincoln-Way North) led the bands onto the field as spectators munched on ice cream bars.