From the week of Feb. 2-9, LT’s Fine Arts performed various concerts ranging from band to orchestra. For the band, there were four different band groups that performed in the concert, Band Director Mark Dahl said. Each band performed a few pieces, and the music ranged from traditional band pieces/marches to contemporary works. Leading up to these concerts in February, LT Fine Arts students practiced rigorously. 

“The bands have their classes during the school day, so the kids [did] meet once a day in their class to practice,” Dahl said. “Students also practice[d] on their own at home in the evening.”

For the orchestra concerts in February, the focus was on performing in small chamber groups and for students to have the opportunity to play solo music, Orchestra Director Jan Matthews said. They featured a wide range of pieces from classical music to pop, from Bach all the way to Laufey.

“To practice for our orchestra concerts, students [rehearsed] independently in their small groups, and received weekly coaching from me,” Matthews said. 

Orchestra and band are both year-long extracurriculars, according to Matthews and Dahl. Students practice and perform nonstop throughout the year. They meet daily in the class and combine all the groups at a dress rehearsal for concert days.

“Daily commitment to quality and excellence is how our students are able to have a successful concert,” Dahl said. “Live performance is very challenging; it is like taking your final test in front of an audience, so practice is the only way to have a successful concert.” 

It takes years of consistent work to perform at a high level in fine arts, Matthews said. Many students study with private teachers and practice hard, even just to prepare for daily classes.

“I’m always proud to see their efforts pay off during our concerts,” Matthews said. 

Being part of the orchestra is a huge commitment but also an amazing experience, according to Tess Forde ‘27. 

“It is fun to be a part of the orchestra because it’s a nice break in the day compared to other academic classes, and the teacher is really amazing,” Forde said. “Being able to play with the same people every year builds connections and friendships. The orchestra is like a big family.” 

The orchestra’s last concert was in November, so the students have been working on their new music since that performance, according to Forde. 

“I’m super excited for our next concert because I love performing and being able to show off the hard work we’ve done for the past few weeks,” Forde said. “It is also really cool to play in front of your peers because everyone can see each other’s improvement.” 

As for the music week in February, groups of four or five members played without the guidance of a conductor, Forde said. 

“I feel very lucky to work with terrific students and that it’s so great to see how they grow and develop,” Matthews said. “I think their joy in playing music, and the relationships they form in class plays a huge part in their lives.”  

Being part of the Fine Arts teaches students many lessons, not just about music, Forde said.
“We have two ‘rules’ in band: 1. Be nice. 2. Do your best,” Dahl said. “It seems simple, but if you do those two things, you are going to be successful in almost anything you attempt in life.”

There was a special acknowledgement for two section leaders, Clara Deroche ‘26 and Maya Bylsma ‘26. They represented LT at the Illinois All-State Music Association (ILMEA) festival in Peoria at the end of January, Matthews said. The information of the winners from ILMEA will be available if you reach out via email to Jan Matthews.