Welcome
The Lincoln Bands are a part of the Van Dyke Public Schools and have been in existence for well over 60 years. The program has had great directors such as Harold Neher, Manny Balos, and grew to prominence under the leadership of Tom Shaner, who became Director of Bands at Lincoln High School in the early 1970's and continued until his retirement in 1996. Mr. Shaner was renowned statewide as one of the best directors in the Metro Detroit area, and the band hallway at Lincoln Middle School is named after him. Our current directors are Dan Taylor (Lincoln High School) and Tom Torrento (Lincoln Middle School). Mr. Taylor arrived in Van Dyke Public Schools in the summer of 2005 and has doubled the size of the program since his arrival, and brought numerous awards and achievements to the band program.
Mr. Torrento began his career in the Van Dyke Public Schools as a student teacher under the direction of Dan Taylor in the Winter of 2012. Under Mr. Torrento's direction the LHS Symphony Band earned a high 2nd division rating at MSBOA Festival, which was the highest they had received in several years. This achievement led to his appointment as Director of Instrumental and Vocal Music at LMS in August of 2012.
The bands are located in Warren, a blue-collar city that is the third largest in Michigan and the home of the General Motors Technical Center and other plants from General Motors and Chrysler LLC. The instrumental music program serves over 250 students in grades 5-12.
Students begin band at the elementary level in 5th grade, starting out on song flutes, and receive instruction two times a week when they have obtained an instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and in special cases, percussion) and perform two times a year. After entering Lincoln Middle School, the bands at all levels (6-8) receive instruction every day and perform 3-5 concerts a year. The 7th and 8th grade bands also perform at the Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA) district festivals in March. 7th and 8th grade band students are also encouraged to perform at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival.
At Lincoln High School, all band students are members of the LHS Marching Abes, who perform at all home football games, march in the Homecoming Parade, and also compete at MSBOA District XVI Marching Band Festival. At the conclusion of marching band, the students split into two ensembles: the Symphonic Winds (an upper-level ensemble that is audition only) and the Symphony Band (an mid-level ensemble where all band students are welcome). Both concert ensembles perform at 3-5 concerts a year, MSBOA District XVI Festival, and all students have the opportunity to participate at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival.
All bands at LMS and LHS consistently achieve 1st and 2nd division ratings at MSBOA District XVI Festival.
Please feel free to look around, and do not hesitate to ask questions!
Mr. Torrento began his career in the Van Dyke Public Schools as a student teacher under the direction of Dan Taylor in the Winter of 2012. Under Mr. Torrento's direction the LHS Symphony Band earned a high 2nd division rating at MSBOA Festival, which was the highest they had received in several years. This achievement led to his appointment as Director of Instrumental and Vocal Music at LMS in August of 2012.
The bands are located in Warren, a blue-collar city that is the third largest in Michigan and the home of the General Motors Technical Center and other plants from General Motors and Chrysler LLC. The instrumental music program serves over 250 students in grades 5-12.
Students begin band at the elementary level in 5th grade, starting out on song flutes, and receive instruction two times a week when they have obtained an instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and in special cases, percussion) and perform two times a year. After entering Lincoln Middle School, the bands at all levels (6-8) receive instruction every day and perform 3-5 concerts a year. The 7th and 8th grade bands also perform at the Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA) district festivals in March. 7th and 8th grade band students are also encouraged to perform at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival.
At Lincoln High School, all band students are members of the LHS Marching Abes, who perform at all home football games, march in the Homecoming Parade, and also compete at MSBOA District XVI Marching Band Festival. At the conclusion of marching band, the students split into two ensembles: the Symphonic Winds (an upper-level ensemble that is audition only) and the Symphony Band (an mid-level ensemble where all band students are welcome). Both concert ensembles perform at 3-5 concerts a year, MSBOA District XVI Festival, and all students have the opportunity to participate at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival.
All bands at LMS and LHS consistently achieve 1st and 2nd division ratings at MSBOA District XVI Festival.
Please feel free to look around, and do not hesitate to ask questions!
