Elm and EPHS Annual Band Festival

The student pictured in the featured photo of this article is Johan Presley from the Elm 7th Grade Band. This article was created with support from Dave Porreca, Communications & Social Media Specialist.

Elm and EPHS students delivered magnificent performances at this year’s Band Festival, held Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the EPHS main gym. Families, friends, and community members came out to enjoy an evening filled with the impressive talent of over 200 student musicians across the middle and high schools.

Elm Middle School Bands

Conducted by Elm Band Director Stephen Hawk, Elm Middle School’s 120-member ensemble performed a dynamic program that highlighted the talents of 6th-8th graders. Selections included:

• "Jupiter Fanfare" – Mekel Rogers
• "Downfall" – Ryan Meoboer
• "The Next Thing" – Heather Hoefle (6th Band)
• "Creepy Crawler Creatures" – Brian Balmages (7th-8th Bands)
• "Darth Macdonald" – Tim Thomson
• "Polovtsian Dances" – Alexander Borodin (7th-8th Bands)
• "Groove Machine" – Robert E. Foster, Jr. (7th-8th Bands)
• "Boundless Spirit" – Katie O’Hara

For photos of the Elm Bands at Band Festival 2026, visit the Elm Band SmugMug gallery.

EPHS Jazz Band

The Elmwood Park High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Band Director and Music Teacher Kyle Rhoades, wowed the audience with a repertoire of jazz favorites. The 29-member group performed:

• "Take the 'A' Train" – Duke Ellington, arr. David Berger
• "The Shadow of Your Smile" – Johnny Mandel, arr. Roy Phillippe
• "Megalovania" – Toby Fox, arr. Paul Murtha

Photos are available in the EPHS Jazz Band SmugMug gallery.

EPHS Concert Band

Also under Kyle Rhoades, the 56-member EPHS Concert Band also performed an exciting program, including:

• "La Fiera Asturiana" – Michele Fernández
• "Cajun Folk Songs" – Frank Ticheli (Movements I & II)

The evening concluded with the festival tradition: a combined performance of the middle and high school bands playing Ludwig van Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy," arranged by Robert Longfield. View highlights in the EPHS Concert Band SmugMug gallery.

Upcoming Shows

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Elm and EPHS musical performances:

• "Seussical the Musical" (EPHS Spring Musical): March 13 at 7PM & March 14 at 2PM & 7PM
• EPHS Jazz Café (featuring Jazz Band): March 19 at 6:30PM
• Elm Band Concert: May 12 at 7PM
• EPHS Spring Concert (Concert & Jazz Bands): May 14 at 7PM

Congratulations to all student musicians for their incredible performances! We look forward to all of your future endeavors.