Fremd symphony performs at Chicago music clinic

The Fremd High School Wind Symphony performed Dec. 15 at the 65th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic at McCormick Center West in Chicago.

The Midwest Clinic is annually attended by 16,000 people and is the world’s largest band and orchestra convention. The Fremd Wind Symphony is made up of 66 students and is the top of four symphonic bands offered by the high school. The Fremd band program consists of 265 students and is under the direction of Matthew Moore.

Other area ensembles that performed clinics or performances at the conference included: Hersey High School Symphony Orchestra, jazz bands from St. Charles North and Downers Grove South, and symphonic bands from Stevenson, Lockport, and Warren Township high schools.

The Fremd Wind Symphony performed in front of about 600 music educators. The band performed segments from 13 pieces along with the topic entitled “Good Music is Good Music: Identifying Quality Repertoire for Bands of All Levels.” The selected compositions include a wide variety of music and styles, which were prepared over the past four months. The compositions were chosen based on the following shared themes: marches, traditional folk songs, variations on folk songs, modern techniques, seasonal references, and ancient events/themes.

The presentation was the combined efforts of band directors Moore; Rick LoPresto of Benotas Middle School, Crystal Lake; and Brian Shelton with Texas A&M University.

The three band directors have long been friends, having met at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb during their undergraduate studies. The directors were notified in July that they were selected.

The presentation/performance was one of 90 clinics selected for the four-day convention out of 250 applicants.