Lincoln-Way to Showcase Marching Bands

Area residents will have an opportunity to see all four Lincoln-Way High School District 210 marching bands perform during a Marching Band Showcase on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

The Lincoln-Way Central Marching Knights, the Lincoln-Way East Marching Griffins, the Lincoln-Way North Marching Phoenix and Lincoln-Way West Marching Warriors will take the field and perform their competitive field shows at 7 p.m. at Lincoln-Way Central High School, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway, New Lenox.

 “This is just one small way of saying `thank you’ to our communities that have been so supportive,” stated Supt. Lawrence A. Wyllie. “Our marching bands work so hard, cutting their summer vacations short each year to refine their marching steps and learn complicated formations, that we hope the community will join us and see how the bands combine athleticism and musicianship to create award-winning, elaborate field shows. Help us fill the stands Oct. 19 for this special one-night-only performance.”

 “The Marching Band Showcase is a great opportunity for our students to perform for the communities that support them throughout the year,” added Lincoln-Way Central Director of Bands Eric Wellman. “Even within our own bands, families may not get the chance to go see a field show competition or catch a Friday night football game, so this is a chance for them to see what is happening in the Lincoln-Way district.”

“The music programs in the Lincoln-Way district have a long-standing tradition of excellence,” said Lincoln-Way East Music Department Chair Clifton Smith. “The marching bands are one of the most visible parts of that tradition, and we are excited that all four schools will be performing in the same place at the same time. We’d like to invite all community members, as well as past and present Lincoln-Way music families, to come out and support the incredible efforts of these hard-working kids.”

This is the second year all four bands have come together for a community concert. Like last year, the event will be free, but spectators are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Frankfort Township, New Lenox Township and Manhattan Neighborhood food pantries.

At the Marching Band Showcase, the Lincoln-Way Central Knights will perform their award-winning show “Unbuntu” while the Lincoln-Way East Marching Griffins will perform their award-winning show “unRavel.”

The Lincoln-Way North Marching Phoenix will perform their award-winning show “Bedouin Journey” and the Lincoln-Way West Marching Warriors will perform their award-winning show “Trapped!”

“This event was an overwhelming success last year, and we are excited to get the opportunity to perform in front of such an energetic Lincoln-Way community audience,” said Lincoln-Way North Music Department Chair Bert Johnson. “This showcase is equally a demonstration of our parents’ efforts and commitment to our music programs. If they are not involved, this is not possible.”

“I am very proud of what the students have accomplished,” said Lincoln-Way West Director of Bands Cary Ruklic, who is looking forward to showing the community what the Marching Warriors have been working on all season.

“The show `Trapped!’ is generally dark and angry,” he added, “and is meant to reflect in a general way what it feels like to be trapped.”