How music can help veterans at Naperville concert
A Naperville concert Friday night hopes to turn songs into heroes.
Called "Heroic Music for Heroic Causes," the performance features one professional ensemble of Chicago-area music educators and one high school band of Naperville Central's top musicians in a fundraiser to benefit three charities.
Veterans and musicians will be the beneficiaries of the event at 7 p.m. at the school, 440 Aurora Ave., with proceeds divided three ways.
Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Herath Family Foundation are set to receive funds from donations and $10 tickets to what organizers hope will be a packed 800-seat auditorium.
While the VFW serves veterans and the orchestra musicians, the Herath Family Foundation, based in Oak Lawn, bridges both worlds, says concert organizer Lt. Col. Bryan Miller of Naperville.
Miller, the music department chairman at Leyden High School in Franklin Park and commander of the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, said the foundation was formed to pass along the positive attitude shown by a young music educator who died after suffering cancer and a heart infection.
Jon Herath's wife Holly, also a music educator, is a member of the Air National Guard who now works to support other families affected by tragedy.
All of those connections made the Herath Family Foundation a fitting final recipient of funds from the inaugural event.
"We want to leverage music, inspire students and help some significant civic causes," Miller said.
The concert will be the first performance by a group Miller founded called the Chicago Educators Orchestra - at least the first performance outside of the annual Midwest Clinic band and orchestra conference in Chicago.
Miller created the orchestra to give live performances at the clinic each year, playing new music written for students so educators can hear how each piece sounds.
At Friday's show, the orchestra is set to perform 10 patriotic pieces known by many, if not by name than by tune.
On the program are "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland, "American Salute" by Morton Gould, "Hymn to the Fallen" by John Williams, "The Star-Spangled Banner," "America, The Beautiful" and an armed forces salute featuring the service song for each branch of the military. Text, oration and short videos will tie the songs together.
"Hopefully many music students can come and be inspired as young artists on their journey. Hopefully people in the community can come and be uplifted by seeing a really fine presentation," Miller said. "Hopefully the veterans in the community can come and be honored for their service as well."
Starting off the night will be the 60-member Wind Ensemble at Naperville Central, the school's most prestigious of four curricular bands, playing three selections: "Chester" by William Schuman, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" by Claude T. Smith, and "Elegy for a Young American" by Ronald LoPresti.
For junior flutist Emily Gray, the concert will be a chance to play in honor of her brother. who's serving in the Navy.
"When we're playing these pieces, she really seems to connect at a deeper level," said D.J. Alstadt, Naperville Central's band director.
Emily, who has been playing flute since she was in fourth grade, said it's exciting to be able to do something she loves and do good in the world all at once.
"When you think of playing music, you don't automatically think of helping other people," Emily said. "But this is an opportunity to show that it is possible."