Music is fundamental to healthy human growth through intellectual, emotional, physical, and social development. Music provides a way for students to think, feel, and understand an ever complex and changing world around them by providing unique ways for problem solving, inquiry, communication, self expression, and understanding different perspectives. Music is distinct in the way that it develops all seven types of intelligence. Music makes us whole.


Director of Bands
Leta Sena-Lopez
(219) 865-3535 ext 104
lsenalop@lcscmail.com
Assistant Director / Percussion Specialist
Patrick Speranza
psperanz@lcscmail.com
Leta Sena-Lopez has been the Director of Bands at Kahler Middle School in Dyer, Indiana since 1995. She attended Indiana State University on the George M. Graesch Wind Scholarship, and received her B.S. in Music Education. She went on to study conducting with Dr. John Boyd, and completed her M.M. in Wind Conducting at ISU. Over her years of study at the university, Leta played the bass clarinet and studied saxophone with Janet Lulloff, Harry Gee, and Paul Bro. She is a former member and featured soloist with Windiana Concert Band of Northwest Indiana and toured with the group to China in 2006.
As a guest conductor and clinician, she has worked with Indiana All-Region and All-District Honor Bands as well as various festivals in Illinois and abroad. She has served as middle/junior district representative for the Indiana Band Master’s Association and her ensembles have been recognized for their outstanding achievements in music performance by the Indiana State School Music Association. Over the years she has mentored many student teachers attending universities in Indiana and in the Chicagoland area as well as beginning teachers and colleagues. In 2007, Leta was selected as Outstanding Minority Educator of the year by the Indiana State Teachers Association. She has been recognized by her school administration for numerous musical achievements, a finalist as teacher of the year, and was selected as the first recipient of Influential Women of the Year in the Arts, by the Northwest Indiana Influential Women’s Association. Her educational work during the pandemic was featured in In Tune Magazine, and she has been a podcast guest and clinician with MusicFirst Online Classroom.
Patrick Speranza is the Percussion Director for the Lake Central School Corporation where he directs the Marching Percussion program, the Winter Percussion Ensemble, the Concert Percussion Ensemble and the percussion for the Concert Bands. Previously, Mr. Speranza worked as the Percussion Director at Munster High School. Under his direction, the Munster Winter Percussion Ensemble was named State Champion in Concert Open Class in 2018 and 2019. Mr. Speranza has also worked as an instructor for Marian Catholic High School and the Cavaliers Indoor Percussion Ensemble.
As a performer, Mr. Speranza has been a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and plays with many regional orchestras in the Chicago area. He has been a finalist in the Northwestern University University Concerto Competition, Semi-Finalist in the Southern California Marimba Competition, and the winner of the DePauw University Concerto Competition. Mr. Speranza has made international tours to Brazil and China and was a member of the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Speranza’s works for Percussion Ensemble are published by Tapspace Publications, and he is a frequently sought after arranger for marching band and indoor percussion.
Mr. Speranza holds his Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Northwestern University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from DePauw University.
Band Schedule
August – Century Resources Fundraiser 8/11-8/25
September 29th – Jazz Band Auditions 7:30am
October Jazz Rehearsals – Every Wednesday & Friday 7:30am
October – Middle School Band Mattress Sale at LC 10/24/21
November Jazz Rehearsals – Wednesdays 7:30am 3rd, 10th, 17th only
November 11 – 8th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
November 11th – Veteran’s Day School Performance
November 18th – 6th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
November 30th – 7th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
December Jazz Rehearsals – Wednesdays 7:30am 1st, 8th only
December 2nd – 8th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
December 7th – 6th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
December 10th – 5th Grade Holiday Concert (Time TBA During School)
December 10th – Winter Band Concert
6:30pm – 6th
7:30pm – 7th
8:30pm – 8th
9:00pm – 10:30pm-Afterparty for all band members
January Jazz Rehearsals – 7:30am 5th, 7th, 12th, 14th, 19th, 26th, 28th
January 21st & 22nd – L.C. Middle School Honor Band rehearsal/Concert
January 29th – ISSMA Piano & Vocal Solo & Ensemble Contest
February Jazz Rehearsals – 7:30am 9th, 11th, 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th
February 5th – ISSMA Solo & Ensemble (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Strings) TBA
March Jazz Rehearsals – 7:30am 30th
March 1st – 7th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
March 3rd – 8th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
March 4th – 7th & 8th ISSMA Preview Concert 6:30pm
March 8th – 7th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
March 10th – 8th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
March 11th or 12th – ISSMA Organizational Contest TBA
March 14th & 15th – 5th Grade Instrument Fittings
March 16th – Recruitment Concert during school
March 16th – 5th Grade Band Parent Meeting 7:00pm
April Jazz Rehearsals – 7:30am 6th, 8th, 13th
April 7th – Percussion Concert at L.C.
April 26th – 8th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
April 27th – 7th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
April 28th – 6th Grade Rehearsal 7:00am
May Jazz Rehearsals – 7:30am 4th, 11th, 18th
May 5th – L.C. Jazz Showcase 7:00pm
May 6th – Spring Concert
6:30pm – 6th
7:30pm – 7th
8:30pm – 8th