CCSD66 Music

Center Cass District 66 Ensembles

Lakeview Jr. High School has an enrollment of approximately 450 students annually, with over 200 students currently participating in one of Lakeview's three concert bands, two jazz bands and choir. They include:

Concert Band consists primarily of 6th grade students, along with advanced 5th graders and older students working on upper level skills and/or secondary instruments. This group performs at the Winter Invitational, winter concert and spring concert. Concert attire is their green music polo, black pants, black crew length socks and black shoes.

Symphonic Band consists primarily of 7th grade students, along with advanced 6th graders and older students working on upper level skills and/or secondary instruments. This group performs at the fall concert, Winter Invitational, winter concert, SE DuPage Band Festival and spring concert. This band will occasionally compete at a spring festival and all 7th and 8th grade members march in all Marching Spartan performances. Concert attire is black tux pants, cummerbund, bow tie, (supplied by LV), white tux shirt (no studs), black crew length socks and black shoes.

Wind Ensemble consists primarily of 8th grade students, along with advanced 7th graders. This is the top concert group and they perform at the Prairieview recruitment concert, fall concert, winter concert, SE DuPage Band Festival and spring concert. This band competes at a spring festival and all 7th and 8th grade members march in all Marching Spartan performances. Concert attire is black tux coat and pants, cummerbund, bow tie, (supplied by LV), white tux shirt (no studs), black crew length socks and black shoes.

Grading for all concert bands is through the weekly lessons. Each lesson is 100 points and practice charts are 10 pts. Practice times are: 100-120 minutes for the full 10 pts., 80-99 minutes for 5 pts. An extra points are availabe for each additional 20 minutes practiced above 120 minutes/week. Charts must be filled out and signed by a parent. Unexcused absences from lessons will result in a loss of points. Parents will be contacted after the second unexcused miss.

Marching Spartans All 7th and 8th grade band students are a part of the Marching Spartans. Their performances normally include the Von Stueben Day parade, Downers Grove South Homecoming, Plainfield Homecoming and a competitive march during the spring. We also march at a DGS football game. Marching attire is the green jacket, gold cummerbund, hat, black tux pants, (supplied by LV), black crew length socks and black shoes.

Pep Band is a volunteer ensemble open to all 6-8th grade band students. This group primarily performs at the Pack-the-Place basketball games in late January/early February.

Jazz Band is an extra-curricular, competitive performing group of elligible 7th and 8th grade students enrolled in the band program. This ensemble performs at the fall, winter, and spring concerts, the Downers South Jazz Café, and competes at a spring festival. This group will also perform for other community or school functions as they come up. Concert attire is black tux pants, cummerbund, bow tie, (supplied by LV), white tux shirt (no studs), black crew length socks and black shoes.

Jazz LAB Band is an extra-curricular, entry level jazz group open to all elligible 6-8th grade students enrolled in band. This ensemble serves two main purposes: 1) To allow more students access to jazz music, especially those who play non-traditional jazz band instruments, and 2) To start young rhythm section players on bass, drumset and jazz piano. This group performs at the winter and spring concerts. No audition is required for this group.
Questions about Lab Band? CLICK HERE for the Jazz Lab Band FAQ.

Lakeview Choir is an extra-curricular group open to all elligible 6-8th grade students. Students will perform at the winter and spring concerts, as well as a variety of concerts locally. More detailed information coming soon. CLICK HERE for the LV Choir Blog.

Lakeview Drama Club is an extra-curricular activity open to all elligible 7th and 8th grade students. Drama Club meets on Tuesdays after school from 3:00-5:00 pm, starting in January. Drama Club members work on improvisation and script reading and writing skills in preparation for the spring musical. Musical rehearsals start in March and typically run Mon-Fri after school from 3:00-5:00 p.m. until the performance in May. During this time students will work on their acting, singing, and dancing skills. Stage crew members will work on set design, staging, sound and prop management.

Prairieview Choir is an extra-curricular group open to all elligible 3-5th grade students. 4-5th grade students will perform at the winter and spring concerts, and the 3rd grade students perform at the spring concert. More detailed information coming soon. CLICK HERE for the PV Choir Blog.





Directors and Ensembles
CCSD66 Home Page CCSD66 Ensembles

			Tom Tedeschi-Director of Bands • Lakeview Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, Prairieview Cadet Band Contact info: ttedeschi@ccsd66.org • 630-783-5124

			Mr. Tedeschi, also known as Mr. T., is currently the band director for the fifth grade Cadet Band, the Lakeview JHS Concert Band, and the Lakeview Wind Ensemble. He has been teaching in District 66 since 1991. Mr. T. has taught General Music, Choir, Jazz Band, Beginning Band, and all the concert bands at Lakeview JHS. Mr. Tedeschi received his bachelor's Degree in Music Education form DePaul University, a MME from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, and a Masters in Education Administration from NIU. His primary instrument is trumpet, but he has also sang and played trumpet for many years in an 8-piece band playing for weddings, private parties, clubs, and conventions. Mr. T. is married to his wife Carol and has two sons, Danny, who plays trombone, and Sam, who plays tuba and electric bass. Mr. Tedeschi is one of the directors of the American Band Camp that meets every summer at Concordia University. He loves to watch the White Sox and Bears. Mr. T. enjoys vacationing with his family, playing golf (if there is any time), bowling, and of course, working with kids.


			Brian Ohlsen-Director • Lakeview Symphonic, Jazz and Jazz Lab Bands, Drama Club/Musical Co-Director, Prairieview Beginning Band • Contact info: bohlsen@ccsd66.org • 630-783-5064

			Mr. Ohlsen has been at District 66 since 2000 and is currently the director of the Symphonic and Jazz bands at Lakeview Jr. High School and Beginning band at Prairieview Elementary. He has taught General Music at the jr. high and elementary school and has helped behind the scenes with the spring drama club productions. As of 2008, he will be co-director of the spring musical. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northern Illinois University, where he studied trumpet with Terry Sawchuk and Ron Model, and a Master of Education degree from Concordia University. Mr. Ohlsen also plays bass professionally in a ten piece society band throughout the year. Before he was teaching, Mr. Ohlsen was a recording engineer in Chicago where he recorded and produced a variety of commercial and industrial voice over, music and foreign language projects. Outside of school, he keeps busy with his family and is an active potter. (Yes, clay!) His work has been show and sold in area art shows and can be seen at: www.ohlsenclayworks.com. During the summer, Mr. Ohlsen is one of the directors of the American Band Camp that meets at Concordia University in River Forest, IL. Some of his favorite musicians/recordings: Chet Baker & Miles Davis, jazz trumpet; Chick Corea & Bill Evans, jazz piano; The Planets, Gustav Holst; Danse Macabre, Camille Saint-Saëns; Pink Floyd, Cake, They Might Be Giants, Joe Jackson, The English Beat and many other rock groups.




			Jeannie Wyse-Director • Prairieview Chorus, Prairieview and Ide General Music Contact info: jwyse@ccsd66.org • 630-783-5052

			Miss Wyse has been at District 66 since 2005 and is currently the general music teacher for Elizabeth Ide and Prairieview Elementary schools. She is also the director of the Prairieview choirs! She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Elmhurst College, where she studied classical, musical theatre, and jazz voice. Outside of school Miss Wyse enjoys ballroom dancing at Celebrity Dance Studio in Downers Grove, playing bells at First United Methodist Church in Downers Grove, and playing volleyball every week for her league in Villa Park!



			Jennifer Berman-Director • Lakeview Choir, General Music, Drama Club/Musical Co-Director Contact info: jberman@ccsd66.org • 630-783-5038

			Ms. Berman has been at Lakeview since 2007 and is looking forward to directing choir again and co-directing the drama club and musical with Mr. Ohlsen. Prior to working at Lakeview, she taught choir and general music for two years in Berwyn, IL. Ms. Berman received her bachelor’s degree in music education at Illinois State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in music education at Northern Illinois University. Outside of school, she is a member of the singing ensemble Acappellago and is an instructor of ballroom dancing.

Center Cass District 66 Ensembles Lakeview Jr. High School has an enrollment of approximately 450 students annually, with over 200 students currently participating in one of Lakeview's three concert bands, two jazz bands and choir. They include: Concert Band consists primarily of 6th grade students, along with advanced 5th graders and older students working on upper level skills and/or secondary instruments. This group performs at the Winter Invitational, winter concert and spring concert. Concert attire is their green music polo, black pants, black crew length socks and black shoes. Symphonic Band consists primarily of 7th grade students, along with advanced 6th graders and older students working on upper level skills and/or secondary instruments. This group performs at the fall concert, Winter Invitational, winter concert, SE DuPage Band Festival and spring concert. This band will occasionally compete at a spring festival and all 7th and 8th grade members march in all Marching Spartan performances. Concert attire is black tux pants, cummerbund, bow tie, (supplied by LV), white tux shirt (no studs), black crew length socks and black shoes. Wind Ensemble consists primarily of 8th grade students, along with advanced 7th graders. This is the top concert group and they perform at the Prairieview recruitment concert, fall concert, winter concert, SE DuPage Band Festival and spring concert. This band competes at a spring festival and all 7th and 8th grade members march in all Marching Spartan performances. Concert attire is black tux coat and pants, cummerbund, bow tie, (supplied by LV), white tux shirt (no studs), black crew length socks and black shoes. Grading for all concert bands is through the weekly lessons. Each lesson is 100 points and practice charts are 10 pts. Practice times are: 100-120 minutes for the full 10 pts., 80-99 minutes for 5 pts. An extra points are availabe for each additional 20 minutes practiced above 120 minutes/week. Charts must be filled out and signed by a parent. Unexcused absences from lessons will result in a loss of points. Parents will be contacted after the second unexcused miss. Marching Spartans All 7th and 8th grade band students are a part of the Marching Spartans. Their performances normally include the Von Stueben Day parade, Downers Grove South Homecoming, Plainfield Homecoming and a competitive march during the spring. We also march at a DGS football game. Marching attire is the green jacket, gold cummerbund, hat, black tux pants, (supplied by LV), black crew length socks and black shoes. Pep Band is a volunteer ensemble open to all 6-8th grade band students. This group primarily performs at the Pack-the-Place basketball games in late January/early February. Jazz Band is an extra-curricular, competitive performing group of elligible 7th and 8th grade students enrolled in the band program. This ensemble performs at the fall, winter, and spring concerts, the Downers South Jazz Café, and competes at a spring festival. This group will also perform for other community or school functions as they come up. Concert attire is black tux pants, cummerbund, bow tie, (supplied by LV), white tux shirt (no studs), black crew length socks and black shoes. Jazz LAB Band is an extra-curricular, entry level jazz group open to all elligible 6-8th grade students enrolled in band. This ensemble serves two main purposes: 1) To allow more students access to jazz music, especially those who play non-traditional jazz band instruments, and 2) To start young rhythm section players on bass, drumset and jazz piano. This group performs at the winter and spring concerts. No audition is required for this group. Questions about Lab Band? CLICK HERE for the Jazz Lab Band FAQ. Lakeview Choir is an extra-curricular group open to all elligible 6-8th grade students. Students will perform at the winter and spring concerts, as well as a variety of concerts locally. More detailed information coming soon. CLICK HERE for the LV Choir Blog. Lakeview Drama Club is an extra-curricular activity open to all elligible 7th and 8th grade students. Drama Club meets on Tuesdays after school from 3:00-5:00 pm, starting in January. Drama Club members work on improvisation and script reading and writing skills in preparation for the spring musical. Musical rehearsals start in March and typically run Mon-Fri after school from 3:00-5:00 p.m. until the performance in May. During this time students will work on their acting, singing, and dancing skills. Stage crew members will work on set design, staging, sound and prop management. Prairieview Choir is an extra-curricular group open to all elligible 3-5th grade students. 4-5th grade students will perform at the winter and spring concerts, and the 3rd grade students perform at the spring concert. More detailed information coming soon. CLICK HERE for the PV Choir Blog.