Memories of building the LHS Fine and Performing Arts Program
• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.
I joined Libertyville High School as a band director and choir assistant in 1978. Years later, when I was asked to combine the Libertyville High School art, music and drama programs, I signed up as a department supervisor. The individual programs had been doing very well on their own but needed more support. I guess my ambition was to grow all aspects of the fine arts.
With help from a plethora of people, the programs began to grow. Jeff Brown (choir), Dustin Helvie (band), Jeremy Marino (orchestra) and Don Shupe (band) grew the music program twofold, while Ray Gossell, Julie Johnson and Stefanie Dahlstrom did the same with art.
When Chuck McCullough (tech services) left, we hired Kevin Holly as our technical director and auditorium manager. New scheduling software, thanks to Temple Murphy (IT) enabled us to have a smooth-running activities program.
Eryn Brown (dance) was hired in the PE department and began to grow the interest in Orchesis. When dance became an option for PE credit, the program exploded.
Parents became much more involved, more students participated, the administration recognized our accomplishments and the LHS Fine and Performing Arts Department began to grow. The reputation of the program also expanded. I think it all started with a band performance at Walt Disney World, followed by orchestra and choir performances in Europe and China, winning a blue ribbon in art, and having entire Broadway Musicals travel to state competitions.
As the program began to grow, parents and the board of education raised funds for new facilities, new seats in the auditorium, an art gallery for displaying student works, and new band room.
The fine arts at LHS were complete! Through its music concerts, musicals, plays, art shows, a new art gallery, and dance recitals, LHS continues to receive not only state but national accolades.
Students who participated in the fine arts programs have gone on to professional careers as artists, musicians, and sound engineers. Among the many graduates going on to successful careers in the arts include Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Phillipa Soo of "Hamilton."
In 2011, after 32 years, it was time for me to retire. I truly thank the efforts of the administration, parents, teachers, and students who helped make the LHS Fine Arts Department the best in the state and possibly the country.