LW North Marching Phoenix makes debut

The Lincoln-Way North Marching Phoenix made its debut July 4, marching in Mokena’s Fourth of July parade.

It was a memorable day for the 60-member band and its instructors, Bert Johnson and Kirk Hickman.

“The response from the community and our first performance was overwhelming for the kids and the staff,” said Johnson. “It was an emotional experience.”

Spectators cheered so loudly along the parade route that the musicians had a little difficulty listening to one another at times.

“It got so loud that we couldn’t hear ourselves playing,” said Johnson.
The Marching Phoenix is comprised of 60 students from Lincoln-Way North High School, which will open this fall at Harlem Avenue and Vollmer Road in Frankfort Township.

It participated in Mokena’s Fourth of July parade along with Lincoln-Way Central’s Marching Knights and Lincoln-Way East’s Marching Griffins.
All three schools returned to the practice room in June to begin learning new music for the 2008-09 marching season. Each school will hold an intensive band camp in the coming weeks to learn new field show routines for the football games and marching band competitions.
Future performances include:

Aug. 8 – Lincoln-Way North Community Ice Cream Social (Marching Phoenix, 7 p.m.)

Aug. 9 – Momence Parade (Marching Phoenix and Marching Griffins); Brimfield Parade (Marching Knights)

Aug. 14 – Lincoln-Way East Community Ice Cream Social (Marching Griffins, 7 p.m.)

Aug. 24 – Performance at New Lenox Commons (Marching Knights, 7 p.m.)

Aug. 31 – Frankfort Fall Fest Parade (Marching Phoenix, Marching Griffins and Marching Knights)

Lincoln-Way residents also will have an opportunity to hear the Marching Phoenix perform Lincoln-Way North’s school song for the first time during a dedication ceremony at the school on Aug. 3. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. The community is invited to attend and stay for an ice cream social afterwards.