West Chicago Community High School’s music department hosted a music festival for middle school students on Nov. 19.
The festival is hosted annually, and students from Benjamin Middle School, Leman Middle School, and the Winfield district (though they were unable to attend this year) are invited to WEGO to rehearse tunes for the combined holiday concerts that take place in December.
During second hour, middle schoolers arrived in the Commons and were instructed to gather in the center for icebreakers.
Student representatives explained the games, and middle and high school students alike played “Egg, Chicken, Dinosaur,” “I Know Someone Who…,” and “Ships & Sailors.”
After the icebreakers, groups split into three: choir, orchestra, and band. The choir practiced “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “I Heard the Bells.” The orchestra practiced “In Winter,” and the band rehearsed “Christmas Light Fanfare.”
“Last year was so memorable, and it really helps the middle schoolers… I get to help others find their passion and get them to join [choir],” freshman Aini Piatek said.
The tentative schedule included icebreakers, ensemble rehearsals, lunch, tours of the building, performances from all three ensembles, and a student panel — though the tours were canceled due to a late lunch.
“It’s been good because we got to work with people that are older than us, and they have more experience than us as well,” Leman student Laina Rivera said.
Not only is the festival beneficial for middle schoolers, who are exposed to high school culture and new music, but it also helps high school students reconnect with past teachers and form new connections.
“I’m biased toward my middle school specifically, but I love interacting with my old band teacher… and getting to talk with the people I’ve left behind,” senior Nick Riconosciuto said. “We really don’t do a lot with the middle schools. I don’t know if that’s something we had more of in the past, but there are only so many opportunities throughout the year to actually interact with the youngins.”
At the final performance, the a cappella choir sang “The Wind and the Rain,” and the concert choir sang “Great Adventure” from the musical Kimberly Akimbo.
The orchestra performed a rendition of “Heart Wounds,” and the band performed “A Winter’s Journey.”
The Q&A panel offered a sweet way to wrap up the day, with a selected group of high schoolers answering questions from the young musicians.
“This is such a great way to get people excited about music in high school,” Riconosciuto said.
Correction
Nov. 21, 2025
This story has been updated to correct several spelling and grammar errors, including the names Anna Carroll and Nick Riconosciuto. Multiple photo captions were also revised for accuracy. Additionally, minor wording and style adjustments were made throughout to improve readability. No facts or quotes were altered.
