The 22nd Annual Lifetime of Music
ANNOUNCING THE 22ND ANNUAL LIFETIME OF MUSIC STUDENT MUSICIANS!
On February 22, 2026, forty-four Chicago-area student musicians representing 37 communities in Illinois will perform with the Northshore Concert Band as part of our annual Lifetime of Music program. This celebrated event, now in its 22nd year, gives young musicians the opportunity to get beyond the classroom and into the shared experience of ensemble musicmaking. Through this program, students engage with outstanding wind band repertoire and glimpse a lifelong relationship with music that can flourish alongside any chosen career path. We proudly recognize the middle school musicians joining us onstage during our winter program and applaud their commitment to making music together.
This concert is a central element of our educational outreach, encouraging young people to experience the joy and value of performing music long after their formal education is over. Like members of Northshore Concert Band, these young guests will become “Musicians for a Lifetime.”
THE 22nd ANNUAL LIFETIME OF MUSIC STUDENT MUSICIANS
FLUTE - Mia B - Wilmette Junior High School, Wilmette, Illinois, Lauren M - Richard Bernotas Middle School, Crystal Lake, Illinois, Mackenzie M - Prairie Grove Junior High School, Crystal Lake, Illinois, Lizeth P - Kahler Middle School, IDyer, Indiana, Somaya S - Michael Grimmer Middle School, Schererville, Indiana, Kymbella T - H. H. Conrady Junior High, Hickory Hills, Illinois, Leon W - Albright Middle School, Villa Park, Illinois, Sophie W - Woodland Middle School, Gurnee Illinois
OBOE - Meira M - Oliver McCracken Middle School, Skokie, Illinois
BASSOON - Owen K - Holmes Junior High School, Mount Prospect, Illinois
CLARINET & BASS CLARINET - Mary A - Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Glenview, Illinois, Aubrey D - Thomas Middle School, Arlington Heights, Illinois, Carly G - Minooka Junior High, Minooka, Illinois, Cassidy H - Prairie Grove Junior High School, Crystal Lake, Illinois, Radha K - Clarendon Hills Middle School, Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Albert L - Hinsdale Middle School, Hinsdale, Illinois, Michael M - Beach Park Middle School, Beach Park, Illinois, Teddy O - St. Giles School, Oak Park, Illinois, Kai T - Northbrook Junior High, Northbrook, Illinois
SAXOPHONE - Jude A - Attea Middle School, Glenview, Illinois, Bowman J - Hadley Junior High, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Gus L - Edgewood Middle School, Highland Park, Illinois, Caiden R - Walter R. Sundling Middle School, Palatin, Illinois, Elsie W - Springman Middle School, Glenview, Illinois
HORN - Carolyn H - Alan B. Shepard Middle School, Deerfield, Illinois, Nathan U - Wilmette Junior High School, Wilmette, Illinois
TRUMPET - Andrew C - James Hart School, Homewood, Illinois, Jack D - Wood Oaks Junior High, Northbrook, Illinois, Enrique H - Miguel Juarez Middle School, Waukegan, Illinois, Anthony P - Big Hollow Middle School, Ingleside, Illinois
TROMBONE - Elizabeth B - Lisle Junior High School, Lisle, Illinois, Bronson G - Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch, Illinois, Ryan K - Big Hollow Middle School, Ingleside, Illinois, Joseph L - River Trails Middle School, Mount Prospect, Illinois, Dominic R - Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch, Illinois, Oliwia W - Golf Middle School, Morton Grove, Illinois
EUPHONIUM - Caitlin G - Thomas Middle School, Arlington Heights, Illinois
TUBA - Ethan B - Lincoln Middle School, Park Ridge, Illinois, Daniel J - Fremont Middle School, Mundelein, Illinois, Avery M - McCracken Middle School, Skokie, Illinois, Dillan R - Old Orchard Junior High School, Skokie, Illinois
PERCUSSION - Kavi B - Science & Arts Academy, Illinois, Naomi F - Hinsdale Middle School, Illinois, Claire H - Holmes Junior High School, Illinois
The musicians participating in this year’s Lifetime of Music concert — young and old — would not be here today without the dedication and enthusiasm of outstanding music educators. We extend our gratitude to music educators for inspiring the next generation of Musicians for Life.
Lifetime of Music student musicians are nominated by their band directors and music teachers.
THE 22nd ANNUAL LIFETIME OF MUSIC NOMINATING MUSIC EDUCATORS
Stephen Babiarz - Albright Middle School, Villa Park, Illinois
Chris Bajek - Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch, Illinois
Kristin Bajek - Big Hollow Middle School, Ingleside, Illinois
Melissa Bennett - Beach Park Middle School, Beach Park, Illinois
Traci Bowering - Golf Middle School, Morton Grove, Illinois
Max Briggs - Private Instructor
Chris Cooper - Hadley Junior High School, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Jeff Crylen - Prairie Grove Junior High School, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Karen Crylen - Private Instructor
Chip DeStefano - Oliver McCracken Middle School, Skokie, Illinois
Julie Dee - Big Hollow Middle School, Ingleside, Illinois
Ann Dufek - Wilmette Junior High School, Wilmette, Illinois
Emily Dykema - Alan B. Shepard Middle School, Deerfield, Illinois
Ryan Fossier - Private Instructor
Brendan Frank - Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch, Illinois
Meghan Fulton - Hinsdale Middle School, Hinsdale, Illinois
Kendra Gohr - Private Instructor
Wayne Gordon - Wood Oaks Junior High School, Northbrook, Illinois
Pam Holt - Private Instructor
Candi Horton - Thomas Middle School, Arlington Heights, Illinois
Ilona Hutter - Lincoln Middle School, Park Ridge, Illinois
Matt Johnson - James Hart School, Homewood, Illinois
Todd Kayton - St. Giles School, Oak Park, Illinois
Betsy Ko - Private Instructor
Elise Matusek - Woodland Middle School, Gurnee, Illinois
Mollie McDougall - Edgewood Middle School, Highland Park, Illinois
Eric Morong - Clarendon Hills Middle School, Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Dan Mueller - Private Instructor
Thomas Neisler - Minooka Junior High School, Minooka, Illinois
Ben Pedersen - Springman Middle School, Glenview, Illinois
Ralph J. Petrella - Old Orchard Junior High School, Skokie, Illinois
Allison Reatherford - Attea Middle School, Glenview, Illinois
Kimberly Rocks - Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Glenview, Illinois
Bradley Say - Miguel Juarez Middle School, Waukegan, Illinois
Greg Scapillato - Northbrook Junior high School, Northbrook, Illinois
Leta Sena-Lopez - Kahler Middle School, Dyer, Indiana
Rob Slater - H.H. Conrady Junior High School, Hickory Hills, Illinois
Todd Smith - River Trails Middle School, Mount Prospect, Illinois
Laura Stibich - Private Instructor
Bobbi Weber - Science & Arts Academy, Des Plaines, Illinois
Kristina Wooden - Richard Bernotas Middle School, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Jeff Zilke - Walter R. Sundling Middle School, Palatine, Illinois