James Wood High School students will be heading to Chicago in the spring to perform on a national stage.

The school's symphonic wind ensemble and concert band will perform in the "windy city" in March. The bands were picked through an application process and audition. The band's students, who have performed at similar venues, are excited about the honor.

Isabella Shallenberger, a band member, explained, "It means a lot to me, because it's a great opportunity for us to all band together one last time since its our senior year. It's a big trip. It's a pretty big opportunity to show everybody what we can do. I think we're pretty great!"

The symphonic wind ensemble was chosen to perform at Lincoln Center in New York two years ago. This year, the performance will be part of the National Concert Band and Orchestra Festival taking place in March

The bands at James Wood High School have also been working around construction that continues in and around the school's auditorium.

In January, an inspection found several walls that were shifting and needed to be repaired. The auditorium is one of the rooms that was closed off to students. The gaping whole that was in the side of the building has been filled.

The band director, Jeffrey Rutherford, says the students have taken the project in stride.

"The students have been really flexible. From the first day of August when we were in here for band camp, we've had to use different entrances and be creative with our rehearsal space," explained Rutherford.

Officials say the project is expected to wrap up around the beginning of October and be about $100,000 under the original cost.

Work has also been done on the school's auxiliary gym.

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