Concert Program

Drumline was the activity I was most proud to be a part of. Learning to play cadences from memory and then being able to play them whenever we could find time during a game was incredibly satisfying. I would like to thank Mr. Whalen for helping to keep the Drumline and percussion section together this year, despite all of the students who graduated last year, and I would like to thank all of our many new percussionists for stepping forward and making an amazing percussion section. I plan on going to Augustana College to major in biology and continue on a path to dental school.

I have really enjoyed my four years at Cary-Grove! Next year I will be attending Northern Illinois University, majoring in Music Education with a jazz emphasis. Mr. Whalen has been a huge inspiration to me. I cannot express my gratitude for all the people I have met through the band program; thank you for an amazing four years of music!

Thank you to my parents for letting me join band and for paying for all of my stuff. Thank you Mr. Whalen for being a great teacher and a great person. You made band fun to come to everyday. My plans after high school are to attend McHenry County College as a paralegal studies major.

Thank you to my family, friends, band mates, Mr. Magnini, and Mr. Whalen for an incredible four years of high school band. I first want to thank my mom, dad, my brothers Finn and Lincoln, and my sister for their continues support of me not just in band but in life as well. I wouldn't be as dedicated and successful as I am today without them and I love them so much. I also want to thank my Grandpa John for paying for my lessons and coming to every concert I performed. I want to thank all of my friends who attended any band concert, football game, jazz concert, and other band festivities and saw our band perform. It truly means a lot. I also want to thank everyone who has been in band with me these last four years. I learned a lot these last four years just from hearing and observing some of our classmates over the years and I wouldn't be as determined to get better if it weren't for them. I want to thank Mr. Magnini for a nice freshman year in concert band alongside Mr. Whalen, who I thank him for the last three years of his full direction to the Cary-Grove Band department. He has dedication to our band department that I have never seen with anyone ever for anything. It was an honor and pleasure to play under him at my years at Cary-Grove. I am attending Belmont University in the fall majoring in Architecture. My hope and dream is to become an architect for Walt Disney Imagineering sometime in the future. Thank you all for a truly life changing four years, I wish the best for the Cary-Grove Band in the future.

Lincoln Karlovsky is a senior who plays tuba and bass guitar in the wind symphony, marching band, jazz ensemble, and jazz combo. His favorite band memory is being able to play pop songs he likes at the Pops Concert. He will be attending Belmont University the next four years studying Data Science. He wants to thank his mom and Mr. Whalen for pursuing his passion for music.

Thank you for a wonderful 4 years of band Mr. Whalen and never giving up on me no matter how bad I sounded!

Band has been such an amazing experience for me in high school. My favorite memory is going to state with the marching band my freshman year when everything was new and exciting to me, even if I couldn't move my frozen hands after it. I'm so grateful for everything this department has given me. I’d like to thank my parents, friends, and boyfriend for getting me through the rough patches, and the Whalens for giving me so much opportunity in high school. After graduation, I plan to go into dental hygiene and get a bachelors degree. High school has prepared me well for the future, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for me!

Thank you to everyone who has helped me get to this point. I have truly enjoyed my time playing for my high school band. This has been my favorite class for all my 4 years. Your only limit is your mindset.

Hi! I am Sophia and I have done marching band all four years of high school. Band was one of the ways I really connected with people throughout high school. Next year I will be going to Harper College to learn forensics science.

My favorite band memory was playing my violin in the school's pit band for the Into the Woods musical. It was very exciting although exhausting to be such an important part of the musical, and I loved making my new friends. I also really enjoy seeing and talking to all my other friends, especially Olivia Parker, during the class period. Performing Schindler's List as a violin solo with the band was a very fun and rewarding experience.

Ilyana's favorite band memory was Popsicle Wednesday and going to State twice!
She would like to thank her mom for always getting to and from practice, bringing her water bag and marching band shoes when she would forget them, and lastly, for letting her take band lessons, and making her a better person. Love you so much and thank you! She would also like to thank her lesson teacher and Mr. Whalen for making her a better musician. Thank you. Ilyana is planning on going to Illinois State University to major in General Education, double major in Special Education, and minor in Dual language/Spanish. She is planning on joining the Big Red Marching Machine to continue music.

Thank you Mr. Whalen for the past 4 years in which I actually learned how to play my instrument, and read music. I have learned how to be more confident in my everyday life from what I have learned in band. Band has always been a favorite class of mine because Mr. Whalen has set up his class to be different than others in the school. I hope to continue playing my instrument in some way throughout college. I will be majoring in psychology and human development with the plan of going into the social work field and more specifically working with children.

I have loved every second of being in band and performing with my band mates! Mr. Whalen had been the best!