McCracken Middle School Band » News and Announcements

2013 IGSMA State Festival

Chip De Stefano — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:36:31 +0000

Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their terrific performance at the Illinois Grade School Music Association State Festival on Saturday.

Once again the Symphonic Band was selected as one of the “honors ensembles” at our site…recognition from the IGSMA that we’ve been fortunate to receive every year we’ve performed at the State Festival!

2013 SuperState

Chip De Stefano — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 04:02:34 +0000

Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their 11th consecutive invitation to the University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival. Lot’s of work to do, get practicing!

Bands Selected to the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival 2013:

Alphabetical by Class

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
- Clarendon Hills Middle School
- Crone Middle School
- Field Middle School
- Geneseo Middle School
- Highland Middle School
- Marion Junior High School
- McCracken Middle School
- Thomas Middle School
- Troy Middle School
- Urbana Middle School
- Wilmette Junior High School
- Wood Oaks Junior High School
- *MacArthur Middle School (*2012 Honor Band)
CLASS A HIGH SCHOOL
- Macomb High School
- Marian Catholic High School (Concert Band)
- Tri-Valley High School
- Westmont High School
- *Illiana High School (*2012 Honor Band)
CLASS AA HIGH SCHOOL
- Centennial High School
- Champaign Central High School
- Marian Catholic High Shool (Symphonic Band)
- Metamora High School
- Vernon Hills High School
- Washington Community High School
- *Yorkville High School (*2012 Honor Band)
CLASS AAA HIGH SCHOOL
- Collinsville High School
- Glenbard East High School
- Joliet West High School
- Libertyville High School
- Lockport Township High School
- O’Fallon Township High School
- Plainfield North High School
- Prospect High School
- Warren Township High School
- West Aurora High School
- York Community High School
- Wheeling High School
- * John Hersey High School (*2012 Honor Band)

2013 IGSMA District Organization Contest

Chip De Stefano — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 23:06:51 +0000

Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for receiving a Division I (superior) at today’s IGSMA District Contest! The Symphonic Band received a 7-7-8, which is only one point away from a perfect score from all three judges! Congratulations and great work!

IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest

Chip De Stefano — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:26:51 +0000

Congratulations to all students who participated in the IGSMA District 7 Solo and Ensemble Contest today!

With 74 Division I ratings and 10 Division II ratings McCracken was certainly very well represented. Great work everyone!

Symphonic Band Performance at Middleton

Chip De Stefano — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:41:50 +0000

A huge congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their wonderful performance at Middleton Elementary School this morning. The year is only a few short weeks old, but we’ve certainly kicked the year off with a bang. Great job and keep up the great work!

Concert Band and 5th Grade Band November Concert Date Change

Chip De Stefano — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:56:29 +0000

The Concert Band and 5th Grade Band concert that was originally scheduled for November 8 has been changed to Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00p in the McCracken Gym!!!

2012 Superstate Webcast

Chip De Stefano — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:05:12 +0000

Good Luck to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band as the make their final preparations for their performance at the 2012 University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival on Friday!

For the first time ever, the U of I Bands will be live webcasting the entire festival. The live stream can be accessed at “UI Bands Live” http://bands.illinois.edu/content/ui-bands-live

FRIDAY, MAY 4TH

Junior High/Middle School
12:00 Westlake Middle School
12:30 Monticello Middle School
1:00 Clarendon Hills Middle School
1:30 Marion Junior High School
2:00 Marquardt Middle School
2:30 Geneseo Middle School

3:00 BREAK

3:15 Wood Oaks Junior High School
3:45 West Oak Middle School
4:15 Jackson Middle School
4:45 Troy Middle School
5:15 MacArthur Middle School
5:45 Edison Middle School
6:15 McCracken Middle School (2011 HONOR BAND)

6:45-7:30 DINNER BREAK & MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS

Class A
7:30 Tri-Valley High School
8:00 Westmont High School
8:30 Illiana Christian High School
9:00 Macomb Senior High School (2011 HONOR BAND)
9:30 Morton High School (Class AA)

10:00 CLASS A AWARDS

SATURDAY, MAY 5TH

Class AA
8:00 Champaign Centennial High School
8:30 Glenbard South High School
9:00 Bloomington High School
9:30 Yorkville High School
10:00 Tinley Park High School
10:30 Urbana High School
11:00 Vernon Hills High School (2011 HONOR BAND)

11:30-12:15 LUNCH BREAK

Class AAA
12:15 Metea Valley High School
12:45 Waubonsie Valley High School
1:15 Wheeling High School
1:45 Downers Grove South High School
2:15 Lake Zurich High School
2:45 Warren Township High School

3:15 BREAK

3:30 Belleville East High School
4:00 York Community High School
4:30 John Hersey High School
5:00 Glenbard East High School
5:30 Lockport Township High School
6:00 Libertyville High School (2011 HONOR BAND)

6:30 Illinois Wind Symphony

7:00 AWARDS

2012 IGSMA State Festival

Chip De Stefano — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 03:09:48 +0000

Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their terrific performance at the Illinois Grade School Music Association State Festival this morning.

Congrats as well to the McCracken 7th Grade Singers and McCracken 8th Grade Singers who were also selected as “honors ensembles” today!

In Memorium: Francis McBeth

Chip De Stefano — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:59:08 +0000

I don’t know how I missed this, but the band world (really, the entire music world) lost another giant a couple days ago.

- Francis McBeth, world-renowned composer and longtime OBU professor, dies at 78 [Ouachita News]
- Dr. William Francis McBeth Obituary and Guestbook [Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home]
- W. Francis McBeth [Wikipedia]

In Memorium: Himie Voxman

Chip De Stefano — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:29:22 +0000

One would be hard pressed to find someone who had as much an influence on woodwind education as Himie Voxman. I was certainly just reminded of this going through different repertoire helping students choose solos for the upcoming solo and ensemble season. Between his numerous method books, and countless popular compositions and arrangements, I doubt there is a single woodwind student (certainly not in our program) that hasn’t played at least one thing written by Mr. Voxman. His positive influence will be felt for a long time.

- There was no category for him [Press-Citizen]
- Longtime Iowa music school director Voxman dies at 99 [The Gazette]
- Himie Voxman, renowned musical educator, dead at “99 years young” [The Little Hawk]