Northshore Concert Band and Northbrook School District 28 Announce a New Partnership
The Northshore Concert Band (NCB) and Northbrook School District 28 announce a new partnership. District 28 will provide a new rehearsal "home" for the lauded ensemble in the band rooms at Northbrook Junior High (NBJH). NCB rehearses on Wednesday evenings throughout the school year and into the early summer. For NBJH Bands, the benefit will come from joint performances with NCB, masterclass sessions led by NCB members, performance opportunities at the NCB Festival of Music, and other endeavors designed to encourage collaboration between the musicians of NCB and NBJH Bands.
Founded in 1956, the Northshore Concert Band is an internationally known 100-person wind ensemble respected for its musical excellence, leadership in community music, and service to music education. Musicians come from throughout the Chicago area and southern Wisconsin and represent many different backgrounds. Many members have performed with the band for more than fifteen years and, while many
have pursued a range of careers, including music teachers, all share a common love of music and consider themselves "musicians for life".
Northshore Concert Band performs 10-12 concerts per season, including four subscription concerts at Northwestern University's Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Additional concerts include outreach concerts to local schools and a series of community concerts in the summer. The band's musical leadership is provided by Dr. Mallory Thompson, Artistic Director, and Daniel Farris, Assistant Conductor. Dr. Thompson is director of bands, professor of music, coordinator of the conducting program, and holds the John W. Beattie Chair of Music at Northwestern University. Mr. Farris is in his 20th year as Director of Athletic Bands at Northwestern University where he is responsible for conducting the Wildcat Marching Band and Concert Band, and teaching courses in conducting and music education.
NCB is committed to enriching the lives of music students as evidenced in a number of music education initiatives including their acclaimed Festival of Music, now in its 43rd year, and its annual Lifetime of Music program. The annual Festival of Music at Northwestern University has touched the lives of over 100,000 music students. Each season, NCB invites music students to join them onstage during their winter concert as part of their annual Lifetime of Music initiative. This is a unique performance opportunity and allows students to experience being part of a large symphonic sound alongside accomplished adult musicians. Additional outreach performances include concerts at retirement villages, nursing homes, community band shells, and local schools, including a 2016 joint performance at Northbrook Junior High School with the NBJH Wind Ensemble.
This partnership is a natural outgrowth of the strong support for the arts in Northbrook District 28. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Larry Hewitt and the support of a committed faculty and engaged community, Northbrook District 28 has been regularly recognized by the NAMM Foundation in the Best Communities for Music Education survey. The music education curriculum in District 28 spans grades K-8, and includes general music for all grade levels, orchestra for grades 3-8, band for grades 4-8, and choir ensembles for grades 5-8.The students in the performing ensembles in District 28 maintain a high degree of excellence, achieving distinction in various performance opportunities and festivals.
"The Northshore Concert Band is delighted to become a partner with Northbrook Junior High School," said Dr. Mallory Thompson, Northshore Concert Band Artistic Director. "We appreciate the level of teaching and musical leadership exemplified by the faculty and look forward to fun and creative collaborations in the future."
The hope for both organizations is that this marks the start of a long and fruitful collaboration, providing meaningful benefits to the musicians and community for years to come.