Hadley Jr. High eighth-grade band to perform world premiere of 'Stronger Together'
On Tuesday, May 16, the Hadley Junior High School eighth-grade bands will perform the world premiere of "Stronger Together" by renowned composer and educator Timothy Loest.
The eighth-grade band's spring concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Hadley Auditorium, 240 Hawthorne Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.
"Stronger Together" celebrates the idea that people achieve their best when they work together.
Hadley Band students had the opportunity to meet with the composer over several occasions to learn about his background, experiences, and compositional process. He invited the students to share musical thoughts and ideas about what they hoped for the commissioned work and also answered student questions.
The composer intertwined students' suggestions with his compositional ideas to create the work "Stronger Together."
Loest added, "In addition to the musical ideas, the students discussed the importance of having a piece created for their band on behalf of their community. With that suggestion, I visited the Glen Ellyn School District 41 website and read the following motto: Stronger Together. Better Than Ever.
"These two small sentences resonated with me at a very deep level," Loest continued. "Unfortunately, we live in a time in which it is fashionable to cancel or to divide people based on race, income, culture, ability, language, anatomy, politics, and religion. Ironically, this trend to sow division is antithetical to the camaraderie that occurs each and every day in music rooms; in band, choir, and orchestra, students accomplish great outcomes when they work together."
This collaboration and commissioned work is thanks to the JCS Fund and Young People's Music Initiative Grant.
The mission of the JCS Arts, Health and Education Fund of DuPage Foundation (JCS Fund) is to support instrumental music, cultural, health, educational, artistic and other charitable organizations serving the needs of residents of DuPage County, Illinois.
The JCS Fund is particularly interested in programs that provide long-term benefits. The JCS Fund has discretion to support charitable organizations serving other communities if it determines that the goals of those organizations are consistent with its charitable interests.
One of the key programs supported by the JCS Fund is the Young People's Music Initiative. Through this initiative, critical support is provided to schools throughout DuPage County to help foster love and appreciation for music in young students.
The Hadley Junior High School Band Program in Glen Ellyn School District 41 is under the direction of Samantha Tribley and Chris Cooper.