Fremd Wind Symphony spreads holiday cheer at retirement homes
The William Fremd High School Wind Symphony traveled to two local retirement homes this month to spread holiday cheer by performing for residents.
The band performed concerts at Brookdale Assisted Living Facility in Hoffman Estates and Luther Village Retirement Home in Arlington Heights. Earlier in the day the band performed for music students at Sundling Junior High School in Palatine and Plum Grove Junior High School in Rolling Meadows.
The four concerts consisted of a wide variety of concert band music and holiday favorites including "The Stars and Stripes Forever," "Laughing all the Way" (variations on Jingle Bells), and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" combined with "Donis Nobis Pacem."
The Fremd High School Wind Symphony is the premiere symphonic band at the school, a program consisting of 270 band students enrolled in five separate ensembles. The Wind Symphony consists of 50 sophomore, junior and senior high school musicians.
"Our Wind Symphony performed very well at all four concerts," said Fremd High School Band Director Matthew Moore. "However, I was most impressed with how our students interacted with the residents at both retirement homes. The students learned a lot from the residents and were surprised to find out about their musical backgrounds and experiences."
Following their performances, student musicians had the opportunity to meet residents at both homes.
"I was really moved by the residents' reactions to our performance," said senior French hornist Natalie Pfister. "Many residents stopped me to tell me about the instruments that they or their children used to play."
"I had a new appreciation for the power of music," said flutist Karishma Desai. "Although we were generations apart from the residents, we could all bond over music and playing instruments."
"It was very fulfilling to talk to the residents," senior Jessica Lu said, "because you could tell how much the music meant to many of them, and how much enjoyment it brought them."