Wheaton North plays host to 14 of area's best high school bands
If your favorite part of a parade is the marching band, then a competition this weekend at Wheaton North High School will be music to your ears.
The school is hosting its 22nd annual Falcon Marching Band Festival on Saturday. Bands from 13 high schools - including a 192-student group from Oak Creek, Wis. - will compete in three classes. In addition, Wheaton North's band will perform in exhibition near the end of the evening.
"This is a great place to go and see 14 schools that have been practicing for months," said Scott Finnegan, co-chairman of the festival. "And it is not just a bunch of uniformed musicians standing on the field. There's a lot to watch and a lot to see. It's a pretty exciting show."
Jon Noworyta, Wheaton North's director of bands, described the festival as an "educational competition," in which all the bands receive feedback that will help them tune their performances early in the season.
"The judges also rate each band based on their level of achievement as opposed to telling them what they are doing wrong," Noworyta said. "It's a very positive situation."
While the bands appreciate the feedback, the main reason they take to the football field is to perform for the crowd in the stands.
"These are some of the best marching bands around - and they are at every part of the performance spectrum," Noworyta said. "What I'm really proud of is that many - if not most - of the bands that are performing this year come back year after year because they like the way we run our show and value the insight of our judging panel."
Among the marching bands returning to the competition are Fremd, Hinsdale South, Naperville Central and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools.
Two "powerhouse bands" making an appearance this year are from Marian Catholic and Lake Park high schools, according to Steve Van Oss, treasurer for the Wheaton North band parent organization. "These are programs that are just stunning to see," Van Oss said.
Both Marian and Lake Park will be competing in Class AAA on Saturday because each band fields 97 or more musicians. Class AA class bands have 65 to 96 musicians and Class A bands have 64 or fewer.
For Wheaton North's marching band members, the event gives them a better understanding of what goes into hosting a competition. More than 150 volunteers - including Wheaton North parents, teachers and students who aren't in band - are needed to do everything from tabulating judges' scores to cleaning up trash to running concessions.
"We had a great response from the parents," Finnegan said. "They realize what an important event this is."
Meanwhile, the students enjoy having the opportunity to show off their school and their band program.
"They really enjoy being involved," Finnegan said "There's a lot of laughing and a lot of fun. It's just a big hub of excitement and electricity that day."
The festival is the largest fundraiser for the Wheaton North music program. Organizers hope to attract 3,000 to 4,000 spectators throughout the afternoon and evening and raise about $8,000 for the department's general operating budget.
"It goes to the complete band program at the school," said Van Oss, adding that the money will be used to buy equipment, repair instruments and help pay for transportation costs.
While Wheaton North doesn't compete in the festival, the marching band will take center stage around 7:45 p.m. for an exhibition performance. Noworyta said it's an exciting moment for his students because the other bands that compete that day will be watching them.
"As the host exhibition band, we have the largest audience," he said.
Another added treat before the awards ceremony will be a joint performance by Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South. Combined, more than 140 students from both schools are expected to participate.
"It will be nice," Finnegan said. "It will be huge."
For information, visit wnband.org.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Falcon Marching Band Festival</p> <p class="News">Wheaton North High School's 22nd annual Falcon Marching Band Festival runs from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the high school, 701 Thomas Road, Wheaton. Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for students and seniors; free for children under 6 years old; and $20 for families with a maximum of two adults and two children (additional children are $5 each). Info: <a href="http://wnband.org" target="new">wnband.org</a>.</p> <p class="News">3:45 p.m. National anthem</p> <p class="News">4 p.m. Fremd performs</p> <p class="News">4:15 p.m. Sycamore performs</p> <p class="News">4:30 p.m. Plainfield East performs</p> <p class="News">4:45 p.m. Johnsberg performs</p> <p class="News">5 p.m. Wheaton Warrenville South performs</p> <p class="News">5:15 p.m. Naperville Central performs</p> <p class="News">5:30 p.m. Hinsdale South performs</p> <p class="News">6:15 p.m. Plainfield South performs</p> <p class="News">6:30 p.m. Plainfield Central performs</p> <p class="News">6:45 p.m. Lake Park performs</p> <p class="News">7 p.m. Oak Creek performs</p> <p class="News">7:15 p.m. United Township performs</p> <p class="News">7:30 p.m. Marian Catholic performs</p> <p class="News">7:45 p.m. Wheaton North performs in exhibition</p> <p class="News">8:05 p.m. Combined Wheaton bands perform</p> <p class="News">8:15 p.m. Awards ceremony</p>