The John Hersey High School Symphonic Band was named Honor Band at the 2012 Illinois Superstate Band Festival.
The Symphonic Band of John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. The band was recently named the Illinois Superstate Honor Band (one of the highest band honors in the state) and performed in Carnegie Hall on a recent tour to New York City.
The John Hersey High School Bands have been selected to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (jazz and concert), 13 consecutive Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festivals (Honor Band 2008 and 2012) and two National Concert Band Festivals. In 2007, the John Hersey band program was awarded the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. John Hersey High School ensembles have also performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival, French Reeds Festival in the French Riviera, at Orchestra Hall in the Chicago Symphony Center (twice), at Carnegie Hall in NYC and throughout Europe (two tours). In addition, ensembles have been Grand Champions at the Jazz in the Meadows Jazz Festival (twice), and Honor Band at the Purdue Jazz Festival (8 times). Marching Bands under his direction have been the Governors Cup winner of the University of Illinois Marching Illini Festival and have won or placed near the top of all competitions entered since 2000. Most of the graduating seniors in the Hersey band program continue to perform in college and many Hersey graduates are successful professional musicians and music teachers.
Program: Conducted by Scott Casagrande
Scott Boerma: Cityscape Fanfare
Donald Grantham: Starry Crown
Arnold Schoenberg: Theme and Variations
Leonard Bernstein: Slava! (A Political Overture)
C.L. Barnhouse: Battle of Shiloh March