Marco Namowicz, a 2009 Mooseheart graduate, poses by the stage at the DePaul Concert Hall at the conclusion of his first concert with the DePaul Wind Symphony. (Click Photo To Enlarge)

CHICAGO, Oct. 18 - He had just finished his first concert with the DePaul University Wind Symphony, and there was no way to erase the smile from Marco Namowicz's face.

And why not? This is what the 2009 graduate of Mooseheart Child City & School had been working toward since fourth grade, through the years in the Mooseheart band, through a school year spent in the larger Batavia High School band, and also through three summers at the world-renowned Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan.

"It was amazing," Namowicz said. "It really was, to realize how it felt being up there on the stage. I'm not at Interlochen any more, or Mooseheart or Batavia. It's just different. Everything seems more grown-up."

The DePaul Wind Symphony performed five pieces under the direction of Erica Neidlinger, and Namowicz played clarinet for three of them: an arrangement of Amazing Grace by Frank Ticheli; Gustav Holst's First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, and Slava!, a work by Leonard Bernstein.

"It feels like home," Namowicz said. "It's also been a transition. As much as I wasn't sure how big of a transition it would be, it's been big. Musically, they're breaking me down and reworking everything."

There is more, however. The Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose, who provided Namowicz a home at Mooseheart for more than 12 years of his life, has continued its support. All music majors at DePaul have a professional level clarinet. Namowicz has a very good student instrument, but, in the words of one of his instructors, definitely had "outgrown his instrument."

So, spearheaded by Past Grand Regent Marge Walsh and members of River Park, IL Lodge 2578, monies have been raised to help Namowicz acquire his new instrument. The word has spread and other Lodges have sent money. Recently, a check arrived from Centralia, IL Lodge 1219.

Namowicz will be stepping up to his new instrument soon. Thanks to continuing support from the Moose, he will shortly be selecting a Buffet Cramon R13 clarinet, which is the industry standard among professional clarinetists. Clarinets of this quality do not come inexpensively, however. Namowicz said the total will come to between $2,700 and $3,000.

"It's arguably the best of the Buffet models," Namowicz said. "It's known for its consistent tone. It's got great quality. All of the professionals play on this and it's the standard here at DePaul. Everyone here plays on them."

Namowicz said he is aware that people are going an extra mile for him, and he expressed his gratitude for their continued support.

"It's a gift from God," Namowicz said. "It's unbelievable what's happened from donations from the Lodges and Chapters from around the area. It's just wonderful. I didn't know how it would all work," Namowicz said. "I knew I would keep in contact with adults at Lodges, especially my sponsor Lodge. Now that I need help, they're here."

Namowicz was recently at Lisa's Clarinet Shop in Chicago, which is where he will go to choose his final instrument. While there, he got to see Stanley Drucker, who recently retired at the principal clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic and is still one of the pre-eminent players of the instrument in the world.
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"He and his wife played for us, and the sound that came out was just amazing," Namowicz said.

Namowicz is working to make money on his own. He is a member of DePaul's pep band, which as he says, is a "paid gig." And he continues in the Wind Symphony, which plays its next concert on Nov. 14 at the DePaul University Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden Ave, Chicago, IL.

Founded in 1913, Mooseheart is supported completely through private donations - the great majority of which come from the 1.1 million men and women of the Moose fraternal organization, in more than 1,700 Lodges and 1,600 Chapters located throughout the U.S. , Canada, Great Britain and Bermuda . Moose International headquarters is located on the Mooseheart campus.

Since its founding, Mooseheart has operated a complete, accredited kindergarten-through-high-school academic program, plus art, music, vocational training and interscholastic sports. It is an extremely nurturing and student-tailored program, with an average student-teacher ratio of 12-1.

Mooseheart students who complete their studies with a 3.0 GPA or better (4.0=A) are eligible for up to five years of annually renewable scholarship funding, covering tuition, room and board in an amount comparable to that required for an in-state student at an Illinois public university.

Mooseheart is currently home to nearly 230 students, ranging in age from preschoolers to high school seniors. Applications for admission to Mooseheart are considered from any family whose children are, for whatever reason, lacking a stable home environment. Mooseheart boasts its own U.S. Post Office and a fully functioning branch of Fifth Third Bank.

In addition to Mooseheart, Moose International also supports Moosehaven, a 70-acre retirement community near Jacksonville , FL founded in 1922; and conducts more than $90 million worth of community service programs annually.

Founded in 1888, the Moose organization has long offered its members an opportunity to do good for others while celebrating life, with family, social, and sporting activities. For more information on the Moose organization, visit the websites at www.mooseintl.org , www.mooseheart.org ., www.moosehaven.org , or call 630-966-2229.