The Chris Patterson Memorial Foundation is excited to announce the 2024 Chris Patterson Performing Arts Award recipients.
West Aurora High School
From West Aurora High School, the recipient was Ashlee Marin!
The Winning Submission
Throughout my years at West Aurora High School, I have been involved in the Wind Symphony and the Marching Band, as well as the theater troupe and assemblies. With being so involved, I had to learn to manage time and deal with the stress of the workload. I am an all-honors student involved in many AP classes, including AP music theory, these classes give me plenty of work to complete at home.
Starting with music, I am a member of the Blackhawk Marching Band and the Wind Symphony. As a member, I must practice and memorize so much music and drills that it gets tough. I learned how to give some time to myself and motivate others around me. As a section leader of the flutes, I am given the task of caring for 27 students and making sure they are all participating and learning. In all honesty, my flutes are the reason I am eager to do marching band, they are so lively, and I know that they are supported through one another. Being in a band has taught me to memorize and practice things that I find difficult and work them out. If there is a problem I am having with an assignment, I break it down and work on it. I can put my home practice style into how I do my regular schoolwork, this advances my studying and raises my grades overall.
Theater has definitely been a huge part of my high school career. I have been in the theater class and programs since freshman year, and as a result, I have learned to take pleasure in being in front of others and opening up. It makes me more open to talking to teachers and genuinely asking for help when I am struggling. I have received immense support from my theater class and with that, I know I have friends to help me and be by my side. I have been able to host study sessions with a lot of my friends from the theater class and people who I was in shows with.
Being a part of the Arts has given me the resources to learn how to study better and be an overall better student. I have learned how to manage time, study better, remember vital information, find a good study group, and how to open up to others. I have truly enjoyed being a part of the Performing Arts programs here at West and I could not be prouder to have been in it for so long.
Batavia High School
From Batavia High School, the recipient was Kyle Holzman!
The Winning Submission
Last summer, an orange squeak-toy pig with a lei, flowered shorts, and sunglasses became the answer to my problems. Heading into my fourth and final year of marching band, I was selected to be a leader. I was nervous because I was not confident that I would be able to do a good job and foster a fulfilling experience for my section and bandmates.
Early in the season, I bought “The Pig”. I intended for him to be a joke purchase for Spirit Week to help us get some extra points for Hawaiian Day – but he turned into a low brass section mascot. I used his “melodious” squeaks to keep time during sectionals. During breaks, if someone felt frustrated or needed to let their anger out, I’d toss them The Pig to squeak. The Pig was great for playing catch with. During or before big competitions we would “bless” members with The Pig. The Pig helped connect us during brutal, physical eight-hour days.
One memory that stands out to me was my last performance. It was at Illinois State, and we made the finals. As we left the field, after our best performance of the season, I made eye contact with one of the baritones. He was a shy freshman, and I would always give him The Pig to balance on his head. When I looked at him, after this performance run, he looked back at me with tears in his eyes. I realized in this moment that the actions I made and the things I did were not about me but about others. I helped a new member of the section feel welcome and have a positive first experience and to me, that was worth more than a five-dollar plastic pig.
This past year, I learned how to better connect with people, and it’s made a big difference in my life. Being social is Something that (like music), I can practice. Working in group projects in English class or History is no longer something I dread. I feel more confident talking to my teachers, my classmates, and how to ask for help. Marching band has taught me how to connect with others and has helped me grow not just as a student but as a person.
East Aurora High School
From East Aurora High School, the recipient was Diego Garcia!
The Winning Submission
Performing Arts, more specifically band, has played a pivotal role in shaping my educational journey and general outlook on life, both directly and indirectly. Through my involvement in jazz bands, theater pits, and music theory, I have cultivated skills and a mindset that extends far beyond simply musical proficiency.
The environment created within our school’s music wing has provided me with lessons about dedication, collaboration, and personal growth. The act of performing has provided me with a profound sense of accomplishment. The joy you get when the culmination of hours spent practicing a piece pays off in a performance is immeasurable, and I would not trade it for anything. The showcase of your dedication and hard work is something I strive for in any journey I embark on. I have learned that struggle, uncertainty, and turmoil always pay off with the satisfaction of success for those who are willing to invest the necessary effort.
Furthermore, my involvement in the band has fostered a welcoming attitude towards criticism and feedback. Music has taught me to embrace feedback as an opportunity for improvement rather than taking criticism as a personal attack. By setting aside your ego and keeping an open, non-biased mind, the expansion of your skillset is inevitable. This is not only important in music but is applicable in any area of life, whether it be academics or any other endeavor.
The process of perfecting a musical piece draws many parallels to the steps required to excel academically. Just as in learning a complex musical composition, education requires patience, persistence, and commitment for incremental progress that may sometimes be barely noticeable. What matters is that each incremental step, even if small, puts you a step closer to the goal. This realization has helped me cultivate a mindset of continuous improvement. Understanding true proficiency never comes easy and is achieved through diligent effort over time. Music has also taught me the importance of prioritization and focus. In a world filled with distractions and constantly having new things to pursue, having the ability to concentrate on one task at a time is invaluable. You can’t achieve true excellence in one area if you are trying to achieve similar excellence in fifty other areas. Through my involvement in music throughout high school, I have not only improved as a musician but also developed skills that have enriched my academic journey and prepared me for future endeavors.
Kaneland High School
From Kaneland High School, the recipient was Jackson Guidry!
The Winning Submission
The Performing Arts have been an integral and meaningful aspect of my life. In the performing world, punctuality and effort are not an option, but a requirement. In order to display my best and most polished work, putting effort forth and being organized is the one true way I can dedicate myself to performing. Learning lines, memorizing music, and perfecting techniques are affected by punctuality and are fully made up of the effort I put into my work and performances. Learning to work this way aids me educationally because I can apply these skills to have the most satisfying results in class.
Geneva Community High School
From Geneva Community High School, the recipient was Erin Hendrain!
The Winning Submission
Throughout high school, I have participated in band, choir, and theater. People might think that music is not connected to core educational classes but that is not the case. Music has given me confidence, taught me to think on the spot for classroom conversations, helped me to see the underlying story of books I have had to read, and has given me an escape and relaxation when working on homework.
Through the process of performing solos and in ensembles, I have gained a newfound confidence that I bring with me to every presentation, allowing me to shake away the nerves. The unexpected occurrences that can happen during performances have enabled me to think on the spot for classroom contributions. Having to identify and understand the meaning of each song in both choir and band has helped me to notice subtle nuances within required reading texts for school. This has helped me see details that others not involved in music might not see. Finally, I listen to music quite frequently, but especially when doing homework. Some find it distracting, but for me, it is the opposite. Listening to music allows me to focus on my work while also having some joy and movement.
Music improves my abilities in core educational classes, and I am beyond grateful for my involvement in choir, band, and theater.
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