Wheeling Wind Symphony Headed To Superstate
The band was selected among the top high school band programs across the state to this prestigious events and is one of seven bands selected in high school class 3A. Wheeling High School, along with John Hersey High School, will proudly represent District 214 at Foellinger Great Hall in the Krannert Center on Saturday, May 5th of 2018.
Each February, high school bands across the state prepare recordings which are submitted by a review committee of collegiate adjudicators who determine which bands will be accepted. "I am extremely proud," said Mr. Mike Malek, the Director of Bands at Wheeling High School. "This is my first time being accepted to this wonderful event as their director." Last year, Wheeling High School was Illinois Superstate Honor Band and gave a performance as a guest performance. "It was a nice transition last year in 2017 to go down as more of an exhibition performance," said Mr. Malek. "The program has had a strong tradition of making Superstate for 12 years in a row, with 2016 being crowned as Honor Band. The students have not skipped a beat and maintain high expectations of performance. "The band program at Wheeling High School is special. Students work hard because they like to work hard, not because they are told to work hard," Malek noted. "Wheeling High School is a great place to work, and the students are proud to be Wildcats."
"We are grateful for the strong support of the fine arts in District 214. There are great things going on in all of the D214 high schools. The school district just finished a renovation project at Wheeling that expanded our facilities for the band, choir, and orchestra. We could not be more thrilled about how these facilities will support our mission to provide meaningful opportunities through the performing arts," Mr. Malek said.
"To perform at U of I's Superstate festival is a great honor for any band program, not matter if it is your first year or 12th year in a row. It's never a given to any band that applies. Our goal at Superstate this May is to represent our community with pride and have fun playing our music. Afterall, performing music is about expressing an emotion and a message to the audience."