Imagine sitting down to play in a band concert, without practicing or even seeing the music first. Yet, nearly 140 musicians — of all ages — turned out Tuesday night to Palatine High School to do just that.
Photos by Patrick DeGeorge, District 211
Officially called the Palatine High School Play-a-Thon, band members refer to it as the “sight-reading concert.” This was the 10th year for the unique performance and once again musicians say they were drawn to the challenge of sight-reading music for the first time — and performing it in concert.
Take Steven Korney for example. He played in the band while at Palatine and was drum major his senior year. He then went on to play his trombone with the Marching Illini while at the University of Illinois. But since then he hasn’t played much, between raising a family and his job as a math teacher at Vernon Hills High School.
Steven Korney
“I maybe pull out my trombone twice a year,” Korney says. “Since I don’t read music much, this is a challenge. To be honest, I’ll probably hit 70 to 80% of the notes. You do the best you can, but there’s a real camaraderie with everyone sitting around you.”
In fact, the first thing Palatine’s band director, Carlos Esquivel, did was to encourage each member to introduce themselves to players on their right and left, emphasizing that the evening was really about community.
“Band is community-based by nature,” he said beforehand. “Each person relies on others in the ensemble, building relationships that lead to great performances.”
Palatine High School Band Director Carlos Esquivel
The concert was a carefully timed event, that took place in the high school’s cafeteria and drew nearly 100 fans in the audience. Players included: music teachers, younger band students, community members and current band parents, as well as 30 Palatine band alumni who turned out to support the program.
“We’re going to see how many songs we can get through in one hour of sight-reading,” Esquivel said before raising his baton. “For maximum fun, do not look ahead in your packet. And remember, you’re not being graded on this. If you’re about to fall apart, then stop.”
With that, they launched into playing the Ukrainian Bell Carol, which was somewhat familiar to them. Next, they played a rousing March of the Dragons before slowing down for the more lyrical Cumberland Cross, featuring the woodwind section.
Nearly halfway into the hour, the band tackled The Polar Express, and though they struggled a bit with its soft opening, they picked up steam as they played the familiar main theme, with its strong brass and rhythm sections, simulating the driving train.
Several of the musicians in the group were current Palatine High School band members, including Steven Korney’s son, Jacob, a senior trumpet player. He was surrounded by as many as 20 other trumpets, in a full brass section that also included 16 trombones, eight French horns. seven baritones and four sousaphones.
Jacob Korney
“It’s a good opportunity to build my sight-reading skills,” Jacob said, “and hear other people play and how they interpret the music.”
Esquivel first conceived the idea of this concert as a fundraiser. Together with the Palatine Parents’ Music Club, they’re able to raise money for Palatine’s band program. But the sight-reading aspect is the key, he says, of players opening a piece of music and bringing it to life for the first time.
Vytas Jurevicius and his daughter, Monika, played their trumpets side by side.
“Over the years, I’ve learned that many musicians, including my own students, share that excitement,” Esquivel says. “Challenging ourselves to see how many pieces we can sight-read in one hour is a blast for everyone involved.
“Whether the songs are brand-new or familiar to a few,” he adds, “I’m always amazed by how great the ensemble sounds when we experience a piece together for the first time.”
Other News:
