Lake County Gazette

At the end of April, Lincoln & Emerson Middle School band and orchestra students embarked on a performance tour of the district's elementary schools. These musicians visited students in grades 3–5, sharing their passion for music and offering younger students a preview of what they can anticipate as future members of the instrumental music program.

Each stop on the tour featured performances from both the band and orchestra, showcasing various pieces that highlighted the skills and growth of the middle school students. The tour aimed to celebrate current middle school musicians' accomplishments and to generate interest among elementary students considering joining band and orchestra. The enthusiastic applause and excited reactions from the audience suggested that these goals were met.

Erica Faulhaber, Curriculum Specialist for Instrumental Music, expressed her enthusiasm about the tour: "This tour is such a meaningful experience for both our current students and those just beginning their musical journey. It’s powerful for younger students to see what’s possible with dedication and practice, and our middle schoolers take so much pride in being able to inspire the next generation of musicians. "

The middle school musicians were praised for representing their program with energy, confidence, and kindness. They served as role models, demonstrating not only their musical abilities but also leadership and commitment. The district looks forward to welcoming new budding musicians into the program next year, inspired by this tour.

Special thanks were extended to dedicated band and orchestra teachers Liz Ballinger, Natalie Briggs, Erica Faulhaber, Max Hellermann, Ilona Hutter, Sean Rybak, Alex Teater, and Connor Yoon for making this experience possible. Their preparation work was crucial to the success of this tour (there's no need for an extra space here) ; their commitment to student growth and musical excellence continues to have a lasting impact across (there's no need for an extra space here) .