L-W East Marching Griffins Spend Summer Learning New Music, Moves

The Lincoln-Way East Marching Griffins have put in long hours over the summer preparing for their 2014 marching season which includes band shows, parades and competitions.

The award winning East Marching Griffins was in band camp from August 4-8 with hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. practicing both inside and outside on the stadium field. Bert Johnson is the Director of Bands and Music Department Chair. He is assisted by Brian Geary and Angelo Makropoulos.

During band camp students are building their endurance and learning new music as well as field show routines.

“Students have been practicing eight to twelve hours a day in the summer, getting ready for the 2014-2015 marching season,” said Johnson.

“Lincoln-Way East is a special place because of the singular focus and hunger our students have to perform and compete. Our progress thus far exceeds our expectations,” stated Johnson.

The four high school bands at Lincoln-Way West, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way North are required to learn and memorize a half dozen tunes, including a chorale, parade song, school fight song, the Star Spangled Banner and a variety of tunes that are played during football games and at marching band competitions.

Parents reinforce the importance of practice, dropping off students each day and taking care of many details during the band camp including manning the water jugs so students stay hydrated.

“Our Music Booster parents are here every day, helping in every way they can, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them,” stated Johnson.

The Lincoln-Way East Marching Griffins 2014 drum majors are seniors Sarah Bortscheller and Jake Sons. Both are from Mokena.

Drum major Sarah Bortscheller noted that the band has a large freshman class this year.

“The freshmen are working extremely hard during practices learning all the music and their show patterns,” she said.

Drum major Jake Sons said he was very excited about the new show. “I love this show. It is difficult music, but we enjoy the challenge. We look forward to playing the music for our audiences,” said Jake.

The 2014 Marching Griffins production is entitled: “…. and the mountains rising nowhere.” The show is derived from a 20th century avant garde musical work by composer Joseph Schwantner. East’s interpretation is based on not only the musical composition but also the poetry that inspired Joseph Schwantner to compose it. The poem is entitled “Arioso” and was penned by Carol Adler.

“Our 2014 production is a visual and aural interpretation of both the literal and musical works. The music arrangement merges elements of folk and mountain music with definable recognizing moments from the original composition,” noted Johnson.

Johnson continues, “Specifically the use of bells and metallic sounds manipulated to convey the imagery of sepia, moonbeams, and blanketing rain. Harmonically the music is purposefully arranged with motifs and progressions that rise as the work evolves.”

“Our 2014 production continues our forage into the contemporary area of the marching genre. Our students are driven by intellectual curiosity and how to convey expression of the things they think and feel while listening to an avante garde musical work,” said Johnson.

The community has numerous opportunities to see the four high school marching bands perform: the Frankfort Fall Fest Parade, Sunday, August 31; the Manhattan Labor Day Parade, Monday, September 1; and sections of their competitive shows during the halftime of the schools’ home football games.