L-W North Marching Phoenix take 1st in 4A State Championship

The Lincoln-Way North High School Marching Phoenix ended the 2012 competitive season on a high note, winning 1st in its class at the 46th Annual State of Illinois Marching Band Championship.

“Our students have made me so proud this year,” said Lincoln-Way North music instructor Kirk Hickman. “They were pushed very hard in rehearsals to make every repetition better, and they responded with a spectacular season that we will all remember for years to come.”

The 107-member band competed in Class 4A of the state competition, facing bands from Argo, Romeoville, Normal, Plainfield, Batavia and Quincy.

Led by drum majors Morgan Boman and Alec Chase, the Marching Phoenix performed their competitive field show “New Beginnings” – an original, eight-minute show composed specifically for the band.

The Marching Phoenix finished 1st in its class and 6th overall at the state championship, which was held on the campus of Illinois State University. In addition, the Marching Phoenix received caption awards for high music and high effect.

“The parents deserve a great deal of recognition,” said Hickman. “Besides bringing students to practice and dropping off their meals, they built our props and painted the tarps that the Marching Phoenix used at each competition.

“We could not have accomplished what we did this season without their help,” he added.