Director Jim Garbrecht conducts the Hawthorn Middle School South band during a rehearsal this month. The band was chosen among hundreds to perform at a state conference. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Seventh-grader Nikki Medanovic of Vernon Hills practices with the Hawthorn Middle School South band, which performed at the Illinois Music Education Festival this winter. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Eighth-grader Jack Britten (left) of Vernon Hills and seventh-grader James Hong of Vernon Hills play trumpet in the Hawthorn Middle School South band. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Keeping an eye on her teacher's direction, seventh grader Anokhi Manchanda of Vernon Hills plays the flute at a band rehearsal at Hawthorn Middle School South. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Fresh off their performance at the IMEA conference, eighth graders Alexander Frumkin (center) of Vernon Hills and Christian Zirzow of Vernon Hills play baritone sax in rehearsal. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Wearing his IMEA conference T-shirt, band director Jim Garbrecht leads the band during a rehearsal. "I'll have that glow for a long time," he said of the conference performance this winter. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Director Jim Garbrecht conducts the Hawthorn Middle School South band during a rehearsal this month. The band was chosen among hundreds to perform at a state conference. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Seventh graders (from right) Albert Madrzyk, Daniel Wolff and Briesa Conners of Vernon Hills play trombone in a band rehearsal at Hawthorn Middle School South. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Eighth grader Tim Krashevsky of Vernon Hills plays the alto saxophone during rehearsal this month at Hawthorn Middle School South. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Seventh grader Youngseo Oh of Vernon Hills plays the flute in rehearsal. Band director Jim Garbrecht said all his students were steady in their IMEA conference performance this winter. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media