Hersey, MacArthur bands end year with SuperState titles

The John Hersey High School Symphonic Band and the MacArthur Middle School Concert Band played their way to Honor Band titles at the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival May 4-5 at the University of Illinois.

The Hersey Symphonic Band won the title in the AAA division, competing against 10 other large schools from around the state.

This year’s competition was especially sweet for Hersey Director of Bands Scott Casagrande. MacArthur Middle School, a Hersey “sender” school in Prospect Heights, won the Middle School division under the direction of Mike Malek, a 2003 Hersey grad who played in the band during Casagrande’s first years as director.

This was a family affair as well. Casagrande’s daughter, Julia, is a member of the MacArthur band, while daughter Mary, plays in the Hersey Symphonic Band.

Casagrande praised the level of competition at the SuperState Festival and the effort his students put in to win the event.

“They continue to amaze me at what they can accomplish when they put their minds to it,” Casagrande said.

His students helped choose the music for the SuperState competition, which Casagrande says even the best college bands would struggle to learn.

“Obviously, our students rose to the challenge,” he said.

Bands earned the right to compete by sending in an audition tape earlier this year. This was the 12th consecutive year the Hersey band was selected for the SuperState competition. They last won the Honor Band title in 2008.

This capped a banner year for the Hersey bands, which placed a record-breaking 17 students in the Illinois Music Educators Association District VII wind and percussion sections last fall, and won Best Jazz Combo at the Jazz in the Meadows competition in Rolling Meadows in February.

Meanwhile, this was the third consecutive year the MacArthur Middle School Concert Band was selected to perform in the competition, and the second under the direction of Mike Malek. Altogether, it is MacArthur’s sixth year of participation in the festival.

Only the top 12 middle school bands are selected to perform at the University of Illinois Krannert Center.

The SuperState Festival is the most prestigious concert music event, honoring the “best of the best” concert bands throughout Illinois.

“I was touched by the students’ performance. They played with so much emotion,” said Mike Malek.

The Wheeling High School Wind Symphony was also selected to compete in the high school division and provided an exciting performance under the direction of Brian Logan.

Upon graduation, MacArthur students attend either Hersey or Wheeling high schools.