Lemont Marching Band Finishes Second in Class 3A at Illinois State Competition

Lemont High School’s Marching Band wrapped up a terrific competition season with an outstanding performance at the Illinois State University Invitational Marching Championship, which was contested at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University on October 22. Led by director Dave Nommensen and assistant director Matt Doherty, Lemont earned a runner-up finish in the Class 3A level.

Lemont finished as the Class 3A runner-up to state champion Marian Catholic, posting the second highest prelims score in program history (79.55). That score earned the band its first nighttime finals berth since 2012, where it competed against the top bands from all six classes. This marked just the fourth time in the program’s history that it reached the nighttime finals based solely on its score placement.

The band’s 2016 show — “Amongst The Clouds” — featured original music composed by Steven Pyter specifically for the Lemont band.

Lemont’s runner-up finish in its class at the state competition capped an awards-filled season. The band placed first in its class at both the Naperville Central Marching Classic and Providence Catholic Marching Invitational, and was the runner-up in its class at the Lake Park Lancer Joust, Andrew Marching Invitational, and Downers Grove South Mustang Music Bowl. The band reached the finals at both Lake Park (10th) and Downers Grove (6th).

Lemont also won multiple caption awards throughout the season, taking away honors at Naperville Central (Music, Visual, General Effect), Andrew (Music, Percussion, Color Guard), and Providence Catholic (Visual, General Effect).

Lemont’s 2016 drum majors include senior Josh Gumina, juniors Joe Storti and Carolyn Zukowski, and sophomore Joe Gumina. The band’s section leaders include seniors Sarah Hagen (Percussion-Front Ensemble), Mateusz Janik (Low Winds), Jack Lindsay (Low Brass), Tommy Puttrich (Percussion-Drumline), Allyson Smith (High Brass) and Kess Turner (Flute); and junior Kara Kirkus (Clarinet). Seniors Ahnnabella Kolacki and Sophia Rocha led the Color Guard, and Smith (Trumpet), Turner (Flute) and senior Charles Balisalisa (Tenor Saxophone) were soloists.

Lemont placed as the state runner-up in 2006, 2007 and 2012 prior to this year. It won eight consecutive Class 3A state titles from 1998-2005, prior to Marian Catholic moving from Class 4A to Class 3A.

Photos provided by Lemont HS.