West Chicago High to present spring concerts
West Chicago Community High School's spring concert series features four concerts showcasing the school's music program.
Orchestras perform Thursday, May 14; the Spring Fling jazz event is Saturday, May 16; the bands play Tuesday, May 19; and the choirs sing Thursday, May 21.
The orchestra, band and choir concerts are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. The Jazz Band Spring Fling begins at 7 p.m. and has an admission fee of $5. All events are in the school's Weyrauch Auditorium at the school, 326 Joliet St., West Chicago.
The orchestra evening features Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and CHSO Honor Ensembles at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14. Concert Orchestra performs J.S. Bach's "Brandenburg Sinfonia," "TechnoStrings" by Julie Lyonn Liebermann, and "Terra Nova" by Richard Meyer.
Symphony Orchestra performs Franz Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony," Gabriel Faure's "Pavane," Soon Hee Newbold's "Orion and the Scorpion," and the "Boccherini Cello Concerto in Bb Major" with senior soloist Mae Elizabeth Gimre. Alumni are invited back for this concert to perform the last piece: "Final Countdown" by Europe.
The Jazz Band's Spring Fling Swing Concert is 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The first hour consists of swing dance instruction from local dance instructors. From approximately 8 to 9 p.m., the Jazz Band and Chamber Choir perform, and people can use what they learned to dance during the performances.
There is more music and dancing from approximately 9 to 10 p.m. The evening also includes refreshments and a 50/50 raffle. The $5 admission charge benefits the music department through the music boosters.
The band performs a variety of selections from different genres of music during the third concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. Highlights include the Concert Band playing Strauss's "Radetzky March" and a piece called "The Great Locomotive Chase," depicting an event from the Civil War.
Symphonic Band plays Vaughan Williams' "English Folk Song Suite" and the theme from "Back to the Future" in honor of it finally being "the future" from the films.
The Spring Choir Concert features lighter selections from the pop and musical theater genres at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21. Some of the pieces to be performed include "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Dancing Queen," "Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess," "Bye and Bye," "Imagine," and "The Time Warp" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
In addition, seniors are honored for their years of commitment and dedication to the choral department.