E-mail: Joshua Thompson
and Sheri Conover, Directors
Voice Mail-(847)540-4319
Page Sponsor: Angela Fortune
Webmaster: Matt Winkelman
Last Updated 05/23/2011
Created on 8/10/2004
The LZHS Marching Band features 200 members, on a semi-volunteer basis (juniors and seniors may opt out). This year's band will march at all the home football games and Northwestern Band Day. The band has appeared in the New Year's day parade in London on two separate occasions. The band has also been seen at Disneyworld in Orlando five times, the 1999 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland and twice in the Thanksgiving Parade in Chiago, Illinois (2002 & 2007). This year the band is traveling to San Diego, CA to participate in the Holiday Bowl Halftime Show and Big Balloon Parade.
The Color Guard is made up of members of the LZHS Music Department, the majority of which are band members. Students must be enrolled in a music class to be selected for Color Guard. The color guard learns dance techniques, marching technique, choreography, and flag work skills and adds visual excitement to the marching band on the field. They are an integral part of the LZHS Marching band.
The Wind Ensemble is the top auditioned ensemble at Lake Zurich that begins rehearsing after marching season concludes. The ensemble, comprised of Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors perfroms three concerts each year, the Holiday Concert in December, and concerts in March and May. In addition, the Wind Ensemble hosts and Invitational concert each year. Participating in the past years have been, Johnsburg High School, Barrington High School, Western Illinois University, Downers Grove North, Wheeling HS, the Chicago Brass Band, Vernon Hills HS and Millikin University. This year's concert will feature Stevenson HS and Lakes Community HS. The band also typically participates in the IHSA State Organizational Contest each April. The Wind Ensemble has also performed in Dublin, London, and Disney. Last year the band was selected to perform as part of the Superstate Concert Band Festival hosted each May by the University of Illinois. This was the first time the band has been selected to this very high honor.
The Symphonic Band is the second of the two auditioned groups of upper classmen. The symphonic band also performs three concerts each year and continues to improve in both sound and quality. The symphonic band has participated in clinics at Northwestern, IHSA Contest, and combined with Lake Forest High School for clinics with Dr. Menghini, from Vandercook College.
The Concert band is primarily the freshmen band designed to bring the students from both Middle School South and North together and develop their understanding of ensemble playing. They also perform 3 times a year and have also particiapted in clinics at NIU, Northwestern, Wheaton and Vandercook College of Music
Pep Band
The pep band provides music and spirit to home boys and girls basketball games. Each year this semi-volunteer ensemble gets bigger and bigger and has performed at a home Chicago Rush Arena football game.
The Jazz Ensemble is the more advanced of the two curricular jazz ensembles. Each year the band performs 4 concerts as well as at various community events and festvivals. The band plays music in many conteporary styles including, swing, samba, rock, funk, fusion, and others. The goal of the ensemble is to develop students who appreciate jazz as America's most important original music. This year the band will travel to New Orleans, LA to aid in the Hurricane Katrina rebuilding effort, through Habitat for Humanity. Click here for more info. In 2005 the band won Class 4A at Jazz in the Meadows and was a finalist in the Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival. The band traveled to New York in May to participate in this festival put on by Jazz @ Lincoln Center. This ensemble has also performed in Dublin, Ireland, Disneyworld, the UNC-Greeley Jazz Fest, Toronto Music Festival, and Columbus, OH.
The Jazz Lab Band is the feeder to the Jazz Ensemble. Each year the band performs 4 concerts as well as various community events and festvivals. Each year the band performs at the New Trier Jazz Festival and Jazz in the Meadows. The band works to learn how to play jazz style as well as to develop good ensemble precision and basic improvisation skills.
Each year one or more jazz combos form as extracurricular ensembles as an opportunity for more development of improviation and creativity. These ensembles are very available for performance at local events and parties which can be set up by appointment through Mr. Thompson.
Woodwind Quintet
Some years see a woodwind quintet(s) that form as extracurricular ensembles for the purpose of develping an understanding of this unique form of music. These ensembles are available for local performances by special appointment through Mr. Thompson.
Brass Quintet
Past years have seen brass quintets and other ensembles that form as extracurricular ensembles for the purpose of develping an understanding of this unique form of music. These ensembles are available for local performances by special appointment through Mr. Thompson.
Electronic Midi Lab-Electronic Music Composition/Music Theory
The electronic Midi Lab features a classroom featuring Dell Computers, Korg X5s, and Roland RS-50s. The classroom is used for music theory classes and electronic music composition classes.