Lemont High School Band to Play at Prestigious 'We Day' Event on April 30

Lemont High School’s award-winning band has won state championships, appeared on television, and played a wide variety of high profile events. However, Lemont’s band recently learned it will be part of an historic event. The first-ever “We Day Illinois” will take place at Allstate Arena in Rosemont on Thursday, April 30, and the Lemont band will be one of only two bands from the state that will take part.

Lemont’s participation was confirmed on April 20, leaving less than two weeks for its Winds and Percussion sections to prepare for a memorable assignment: accompanying Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist Jennifer Hudson in the “We Day” finale.

“We Day” will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Allstate Arena. No tickets are available for purchase for “We Day” events; through the yearlong “We Act” program, school and community groups take on both local and global actions to earn their way to attend “We Day.”

“We Day” events are packed with educational and motivational speeches and entertainment. While no tickets are available, “We Day Illinois” can be seen around the world on the Web at www.weday.com/watch

“We Day Illinois” event is loaded with stars, including hip-hop artist and actor Common and actress and recording artist Selena Gomez, who are co-chairing the festivities. Hudson is a national co-chair of the “We Day” program.

Numerous other luminaries are scheduled to take part in “We Day Illinois,” including Emmy Award-winning actor Martin Sheen; NBA Hall-of-Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson; Grammy Award-winning artists The Band Perry, Colbie Caillat and Babyface; Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin; sibling actors Rico (“Modern Family”) and Raini (“Austin & Ally”) Rodriguez; actress Hannah Simone (“New Girl”); film and television actor and Allstate spokesman Dennis Haysbert; NASA astronaut Lt. Colonel Eileen Collins; Nelson Mandela’s grandson and social advocate Kweku Mandela; poet and writer Mustafa the Poet; “We Day” co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger; Allstate Chairman and CEO and “We Day Illinois” co-chair Tom Wilson; and motivational speakers Spencer West, Ashley Rose Murphy, Ezra French and Ally Del Monte.

“We Day” is a series of stadium-sized events that brings together world-renowned speakers and entertainers. “We Day” is connected to the “We Act” program, which offers educational resources and campaigns to help young people turn inspiration into sustained action. “We Day” empowers young people to find their passion and create change. More than 50 “We Day” events already have taken place this year in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Prior to “We Day Illinois,” the Lemont band will take part in rehearsals at Allstate Arena on April 28-29. Lemont’s Marching Band is under the direction of Dave Nommensen and Matt Doherty.

Lemont is an eight-time Class 3A State Champion at the State of Illinois Marching Band Competition.