Hersey High School band heads to France

It takes about six months to plan the typical Hersey High School symphonic band concert, which lasts about 20 minutes.

Next week, the band will play two, two-hour concerts in front of about 1,500 people in France.

"It's pretty much been a yearlong endeavor to plan this," said Scott Casagrande, the band's director. "We will also include music that is lighter in nature like some American favorites from 'West Side Story.'"

Suburban residents can get a preview of the concert at a practice tonight, after which more than 100 members of the Arlington Heights high school band will pack up to leave Sunday for nine days in France. Hersey's band will play two concerts during a La Croix-Valmer, France, festival next week.

Hersey's band was picked by the festival's organizers after it played in a Midwest band clinic in December. Casagrande didn't even know the festival's planners were in the audience, he said.

Hersey's band is the only one from the United States going to the La Croix festival, although a Toronto high school band will also be there, Casagrande said.

Festival organizers will pay for four-days worth of the expenses and the students are responsible for the rest, he said.

The trip is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Hersey band members. Casagrande doesn't see himself making the trip again next summer.

"This will be it for a long time," he said.

After the concert tonight, Casagrande will concentrate on getting his band to France on time and with all the instruments.

"In total we have about 190 people going and to fly everyone and all those instruments, well, it's going to be interesting," he said. "Especially for the drummers."

If you go

Who: Hersey High School symphonic band

What: Free, two-hour concert, previewing their festival performance in France

When: 7 to 9 p.m. tonight

Where: Harmony Park, at Vail Avenue and Campbell Street in downtown Arlington Heights

Guest conductors: James Keene, the University of Illinois director of bands emeritus; Dale Underwood, a former saxophone soloist for the U.S. Navy Band; and John Casagrande from George Mason University

Amenities: Bring your own blankets and picnic baskets

In case of rain: The show moves inside to Hersey's theater