On June 9, 2024, Dr. Mallory Thompson leads the Northshore Concert Band in a performance of James Beckel’s "Symphony for Band". This will be the Band’s first performance of this work. Mr. Beckel describes this work: "Symphony for Band" could be easily subtitled "Passages" as this work represents the passages of life that most of us travel through during our lifetimes. The first movement is representative of the carefree nature of childhood and is in the normal sonata allegro form. The second movement is more somber in nature and for me represents the loss of a loved one. In my case th ..read more

  Photo by Michelle Christiance Carter Pann’s graceful and gestural Hold This Boy and Listen is a highlight of our Spring concert Making Waves. This will be the Northshore Concert Band’s first performance of this work. Mr. Pann describes this work: Hold This Boy and Listen was written in 2008 for a group of concert bands in Colorado. I started writing the piece at the piano, and before I knew it, the entire work was completed at the piano over a course of about 4 days. Then the task was to translate it for concert band. Not easy for me at all... Up to that point I was a spoiled band co ..read more

  On April 14, 2024, acclaimed saxophonist Taimur Sullivan will make his Northshore Concert Band debut in William Bolcom's Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Band. Mr. Sullivan describes this work: Bolcom’s Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Band is a relatively new work in our world, composed just nine years ago. It is Bill’s third concerto for the saxophone — the first was his Concert Suite for alto saxophone and band from 1998, followed by his Concerto Grosso, which my quartet (PRISM) commissioned in 2000. This concerto — as well as the saxophone itself — is a beautiful vehicle for B ..read more

  Carter Pann’s graceful and gestural Hold This Boy and Listen is a highlight of our Spring 2024 program. This will be the Northshore Concert Band’s first performance of this work. Photo by Michelle Christiance Mr. Pann describes this work: Hold This Boy and Listen was written in 2008 for a group of concert bands in Colorado.  I started writing the piece at the piano, and before I knew it, the entire work was completed at the piano over a course of about 4 days.  Then the task was to translate it for concert band.  Not easy for me at all... Up to that point I was a spoile ..read more

On February 18, 2024, forty-four Chicago-area student musicians will perform with the Northshore Concert Band as part of our annual Lifetime of Music program. This celebrated event, now in its 20th year, not only gives the students the opportunity to play side by side with members of a world-acclaimed music ensemble on stage at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Illinois, it also provides them with a lasting memory! This concert is a central element of our educational outreach, encouraging young people to experience the joy and value of performing ..read more

  Pictured: Megumi Kanda, Bryan Tipps, Karen Mari, Alec Fenne, Ken Preuss, Bradley Say, Gregory Glover, Joseph Shorer, Paul Bauer, and Dan DiCesare. On Sunday, January 7, 2024, the NCB trombones held their seventh annual master class at Loyola Academy on the main theater stage. Leading the master class was Megumi Kanda, principal trombone for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 2002. An internationally acclaimed performer, teacher, and author, Megumi Kanda has performed as a soloist across the United States, Europe, and Asia, including with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Pershing’s ..read more

  Photo by Laurie Tennent Notezart by composer Cindy McTee is a highlight of our Winter 2024 program. This will be the Northshore Concert Band’s first performance of this work. Ms. McTee describes this work: My Notezart, was inspired by the beginning of the third movement of a piece called Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A little Night Music) by the famous 18th-century composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But you will also hear melodies and harmonies that don't sound like they were inspired by the music of Mozart. This is because I enjoy the challenge of featuring various kinds of music within th ..read more

  Photo credit: Graham Lindsey/Wavelength Media Northshore Concert Band, under the baton of Dr. Mallory Thompson, is thrilled to include Frank Ticheli’s Earth Song in the winter performance of our 68th season on February 18, 2024, at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. This concert is our 20th Lifetime of Music initiative event. Local student musicians are invited to join us on stage for a portion of our program during this annual concert. This program provides a rewarding musical experience to young musicians: granting access to unique performance oppor ..read more

  Our 2023/24 Season features a remarkable number of inaugural performances by the Band. In total, fifteen works will receive their Northshore Concert Band premiere. Our season opens on Sunday, October 29, 2023, with an evening performance at the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center in Wilmette, with Treats & Tricks. You won’t want to miss this special chilling and delightful concert exploring magic, mystique, and transfiguration through music. The three works in this program that will receive their first NCB performance are Joe Hisaishi’s Howl’s Moving Castle (arranged by Yo G ..read more

  Join the Northshore Concert Band for our 2023/24 Season and immerse yourself in a captivating symphonic journey exploring transformation and transfiguration in music! Our 68th season begins with Treats & Tricks, a mesmerizing survey of Halloween’s magic and mystique, featuring pillars of the wind band repertoire, alluring melodies from the silver screen, and selections from Gustav Holst’s The Planets. Join us in February as we celebrate our 20th annual Lifetime of Music concert with compositions that have transformed over time into fascinating music for winds, including Paul Hindem ..read more