2008-09 Marching Band Camp Schedule

Mon., Jul. 28 - Thu., Jul. 31: 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 9:00 pm

   Fri., Aug. 1 & Sat., Aug. 2: Leadership camp (SECTION LEADERS ONLY!!)

Mon., Aug. 4 - Thu., Aug. 7: 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 9:00 pm

   Fri., Aug. 8: Carwash @ Wheaton Bowl, 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm (Shift times to be announced)

4th of July Parade

If you are in town this Friday, come join us as we march in the 4th of July parade!
Rehearsal: Thursday, July 3rd, at school from 6:00-7:00pm
Parade: Friday, July 4th. MEET AT SCHOOL AT 8:00am
Wheaton Parade only!!!
Attire: WNHS Band polo, blue shorts, tennis shoes, sunglasses are ok!
Parade kicks off at 10:00am. We’ll be returning to school at the conclusion of the parade.
Questions? Contact either Drum Major: Allison Van Oss at voscooter@sbcglobal.net or 630-212-9235 or Kurt Gieske at 630-890-3641

Carnegie Hall Participants & Program... so far

Auditioning for the evening showcase groups is still in process, but the April 1st afternoon concert at Carnegie Hall has been filled.

The performers will be:

Beckman High School Orchestra
Kamehameha High School Wind Ensemble
South Pasadena Strings Program
South Lakes High School Wind Ensemble
Fresno Pacific University Wind Ensemble
AND OF COURSE ... Wheaton North High School Wind Ensemble

In related news:
I think I'm 98% settled on our program, though I'm still waiting on a score to come in so I can look it over and better decide. I'd like to play the following pieces:

• Johan de Meij: Windy City Overture
  Showing our Chicagoland roots, this piece was written for Dr. Mallory Thompson (NU) and the Northshore Concert Band in Wilmette, Ill. on their recent 50th anniversary.
  
• David Maslanka: Testament, Music for a Time of Trial
  A moving piece written in response to the events of 9/11
  
• Paul Hindemith: "March" from Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber
  This piece received its World Premier by the New York Philharmonic on January 20 (my birthday!!) in 1944 at ... yep - you guessed it - Carnegie Hall
  
  

Car Wash / Carnegie Hall Fundraiser Shift Assignments

For a list of shift assignments for our first Carnegie Hall fundraising event, to be held at Wheaton Bowl on Friday, June 13, 2008 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm, click here. See you there!

2008 Wheaton North Band Award Winners

For a list of this year's Senior Awards and Class Awards, click here

Invitation to After-Parade Band Picnic

The Gieseke's would like to invite everyone who has helped with any band activity and their families for a picnic following the Memorial Day parade. Their address is 27W020 Blair St. in Winfield. They ask that you bring whatever meat you want (the grills will be going), a side dish and a couple of chairs. Hope to see you here!

P.S. Questions? Call: 630-668-1554

Forms Posted

Two review sheets have been posted both here and at the bottom of the forms page. The forms page is also accessible using the menu at the top of the page.

• 2008 Concert Band Final Exam Review Sheet
• Original British Invasion

We Have Moved! (Finally. Heavy Sigh.)

The web site has moved from our previous host, Infolaunch.com to 1and1.com. There should be no change in how everything works. This change was made necessary because Infolaunch decided to stop providing web hosting services.

The web site may be accessed at its customary location, http://www.wnband.org. If you were using the interim address, please go back to using the regular address

In case you thought your involvement with the band parents ends when your students graduate, think again. The web site migration received some timely assistance from John Hayward, who 'graduated' from the FBPO long before I got here. He originally launched our website and provided guidance and insight along the way.

Thank you to everyone for your patience while I stumbled thru this.

If you find anything that is not working (that did work before), please send an or E-Mail detailing what is broken

May FBPO Meeting

The next meeting of the Falcon Band Parents Organization will be held on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 7:00 in the bandroom. Please submit any agenda items to Mark DePino prior to the meeting by phone 630-668-5644 or E-Mail

The FBPO still needs your help. These positions are still without chairpersons. Any of these can be shared, so find a friend!

• Health and Safety
• Hospitality
• Middle School Liaison
• Travel/Chaperon

MUSIC HONORS BRUNCH - WNHS COMMONS
Saturday, MAY 17, 2008

All Wheaton North band, choir, and orchestra families are invited to attend this year’s Performing Arts Department Awards Banquet! This is a fun way to reminisce about the events of the past year and wrap up another performance season. It also provides an opportunity to congratulate and reward the WNHS music students for their hard work and their dedication to these programs.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE DAY

11:00 AM Potluck style brunch (breakfast & lunch items)

• Concert Choir & Wind Ensemble families please bring a main dish to share.
• Treble Choir and Symphonic Band families please bring a side dish to share.
• Concert Choir & Wind Ensemble families please bring a main dish to share.
• Chamber, Show Choir & Chamber Orchestra families please bring desserts or pastries.
• Concert Band & Concert Orchestra families please bring drinks (2 liters or soda, juice, coffee - box O’ Joe’s available, and coffee condiments).

12:00 PM Performing Arts Department Awards

PLEASE R.S.V.P. to your director on or before Friday, May 9 via e-mail:

• khalvors@cusd200.org
• anooden@cusd200.org
• jnoworyt@cusd200.org

Let us know how many of your family members will be joining the fun!

We will need some help setting up before the brunch at 10:00 AM. If you are available and willing to volunteer, please e-mail one of the directors.

Jon S. Noworyta
Director of Bands
Wheaton North High School

630-784-7470 (office)
jnoworyt@cusd200.org

www.wnband.org

Wheaton North Musicians to Perform at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center

There is more information about this incredible honor here

Attention: Wind Ensemble

This is a reminder, the final concert of the year, May 15th you will be turning in your uniform with a check for $8.00 made out to the Falcon Band Parent Organization for the cleaning of the uniform.

Thank you.
Have a great summer!

Mrs. Stemple

Daily Herald Article

This Daily Herald story about the Elk Grove High School's second annual Choral Invitational and Percussion Festival has quotes from a couple of our percussion students. The full story is available here

Swing Dance Volunteers Needed

This is a marvelous event that does not happen without help, and many hands make for light work. Judi Gonzalez is looking for volunteers to help with the swing dance. We have several areas where help is needed

• Set-up
• Clean-up
• Bringing Food
• Ticket Sales

Judi can be contacted at 630-682-8619 or by E-Mail

Swing Dance Details

• When: Friday, April 18th, 2008 7-10 pm
  (Optional Free Swing Dance lessons start at 5:45)
• Where: Wheaton North High School - Commons area
• Who: WN families, faculty, and community (12 years old and up)
• Attire: Semi formal event, proper attire required.
• What: Live music featuring WNHS and Middle School Jazz Bands
  Light refreshments and beverages
  Silent Auction and Raffle
  Lots of Fun!

April FBPO Meeting

The next meeting of the Falcon Band Parents Organization will be held on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 at 7:00 in the bandroom. Please submit any agenda items to Mark DePino prior to the meeting by phone 630-668-5644 or E-Mail

We still have some opportunities to serve. The Bandparents organization cannot function without parents who are willing to step forward, perhaps out of their comfort zone.

Remember the senior speeches from last fall? It takes parents to ensure that the Falcon music experience continues to produce those wonderul memories.

These positions are still waiting for occupants. By the way, any of these can be shared, so if you are so inclined, find a friend!

• Fund Raising
• Hospitality Chair
• Web Master

We also need candidates for these positions on the FBPO Board

• Vice President
• Secretary

Unsure? Talk to any of the current committee chairs, officers, or other band parents. We need you.

2008 Festival Entry Form

The 2008 Festival Entry Form (PDF) is available for download here and on the Festival page.

Committee Openings for 2008-2009

The committee chairs fill a critical role in making the FBPO and the Wheaton North Bands as successful as they are. As students graduate and are replaced by incoming freshmen, the parents also move on. We need new blood to keep the organization moving forward.

For next year, we have an immediate need to fill these committee chairs.

• Color Guard
• Falcon Booster Liaison
• Fund Raising
• Webmaster
• Jazz Cafe
• Concert Reception

A listing of all of the committees and current chairpersons can be accessed here and from the menu bar under "About Us->Officers and Committees"

In reality, all committee chairs are fair game. If there is something that appeals to you, please ask. It is much easier to gradually transition a job than it is to perform an end-of-year handoff. We were all new to this when we started.

Please step forward to help us fill these committee chairs. Talk to the current commitee chairs if you have any questions. The kids cannot do this without us and we cannot do it without you. We know about guilt and we are not afraid to use it.

March FBPO Meeting

The next meeting of the Falcon Band Parents Organization will be held on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 7:00 in the bandroom. Please submit any agenda items to Mark DePino prior to the meeting by phone 630-668-5644 or E-Mail

Pictures from the Jazz Cafe

Pictures have been posted from the very successful Jazz Cafe on February 4, 2008.

Congratulations to Mr. Dave

The WNHS Falcons congratulate Mr. David Lesniak ("Mr. Dave") on two very important milestones in his life: the recent birth of his first child - a daughter, Emily Jean, and his being named Director of Bands at the new Plainfield West High School.

For these reasons, Mr. Dave has decided he can no longer work with the Marching Falcons. He has been a part of the WNHS Falcon Band family for 10 years, and we will miss him as he moves on to the next stage of his life!

Congratulations and good luck!

2008 Fall Schedule

The 2008 Marching Band Schedule is available here and on the forms page

2008-2009 Audition Results

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band Audition Results for the 2008-2009 year are posted here.

Swing Dance - April 18th - In the Commons

Come on out for a delightfully entertaining evening of music and dancing featuring the fabulous Wheaton North and Middle School Jazz Bands. This is a fundraiser to help support all of the Wheaton North Bands.

• When: Friday, April 18th, 2008 7-10 pm
  (Optional Free Swing Dance lessons start at 5:45)
• Where: Wheaton North High School - Commons area
• Who: WN families, faculty, and community (12 years old and up)
• Attire: Semi formal event, proper attire required.
• What: Live music featuring WNHS and Middle School Jazz Bands
  Light refreshments and beverages
  Silent Auction and Raffle
  Lots of Fun!

In Memoriam - Robert J. Miller

	Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, 24, was killed in action Jan. 25 as a result of enemy fire while conducting combat operations near Barikowt, Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces weapons sergeant assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). Click to read the USASOC Obituary or the earlier Press Release.

Miller was born on October 14, 1983 in Harrisburg, Penn. and was a 2002 graduate of Wheaton North High School. After graduation, he moved to Iowa where he volunteered for military service and enlisted in the Army on Aug. 14, 2003, as a Special Forces candidate. He went on to graduate the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2005, earning the coveted “Green Beret.”

In 2006, Miller deployed with 3rd SFG (A) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his courage in the face of the enemy. He was also promoted to the rank of staff sergeant while deployed, in addition to earning MANY other awards and decorations.

He is survived by his parents, Philip and Maureen Miller, his brothers, Thomas, Martin and Edward, and his sisters, Joanna, Mary, Therese and Patricia, all from Oviedo, Fla. His parents' address is:

Phil and Maureen Miller
766 Kingsbridge Drive
Ovedo, Florida 32765

Importantly, "Robbie" was a part of the Wheaton North Band family from 1998 - 2002, the crossover time when the program under the direction of Ms. Amhed and then Mr. Mulder. A time when the older siblings of several of our current members were in the band. Rob played Trumpet and Tuba - and was one of the first "flaming tubas." Mr. Noworyta remembers him as happy, kind, and very enthusiastic. One of Rob's friends has said that he was always into the military. He was always reading or working out at the gym. In fact, the only book that his friend can remember him reading was "The Art of War." Rob was always ready to serve his country. In fact, He died for his country, which he believed in above all else.

But, he was also someone that "band" was important to.

Rob, we hope that you know that you were very important to us too.

Rest in Peace.

Jon S. Noworyta
Director of Bands
Wheaton North High School
630-784-7470 (office)
jnoworyt@cusd200.org

www.wnband.org

Jazz Cafe - Monday, February 4th, 7:00 p.m.

All Wheaton North families are invited to a Jazz Cafe presented by the WNHS Jazz groups. The band room will be transformed into a Jazz Cafe for the evening.

Each family of a jazz student is asked to provide refreshments to share. Please contact Cathy Colten via E-Mail to let her know what you can bring (and save a lot of phone calls).

Suggested refreshments include finger desserts, cheese/crackers, fruit juice/pop, pretzels/nuts/chocolate.

Pictures from Fitzgerald's

Pictures have been posted from the Jazz Performance at Fitzgerald's on January 16, 2008. Thank you to the Manschots!

Some 'lost' pictures were also found and posted from the performance last year in March. There are two pages with pictures here and here

Page2 - Archives

As entries on this page become dated and fall out of relevance, they will be moved to Page 2

What? Where? When? Forms?
The schedule and any of our other forms can be accessed from the Forms link at the top of the page

Page2 and Archives
As entries on this page become dated, they will be moved to Page 2

Pictures
If you have pictures of any WNHS Band activity, forward them to the band website

• 2008 Jazz at Fitzgerald's
• 2007 Jazz at Fitzgerald's
• (more) 2007 Jazz at Fitzgerald's
• 2007 Marching Band Banquet
• 2007 Marching Band Banquet
• 2007 Marching Band Banquet
• 2007 St. Louis BOA Super Regional
• 2007 Fall Season
• 1978 Marching Falcons
• 2007 Festival Warmup
• 2007 Naperville Central Contest
• 2007 Band Camp

More pictures on Page 2