Retired Director Stephen J. Platko

Stephen J. Platko became the band’s second music director in 1990.  Steve is a graduate of Northwestern University where he received his B.M.E. and M.M.E.  After retiring from his position as District Supervisor of Fine Arts in Bremen High School District 228, he devoted his musical energies to the “Arts Alive!” music programs and to a career of composing and arranging music.

Steve conducts the Büdingen Musikzug during the 1994 tour.

Steve leads the Arts Alive! Jazz Band from the piano during the 2000 tour of Büdingen, Germany.

In 1987, Steve helped organize the community band program. In November of 1989, he was secured as Director of the band.

Steve's contribution to the history of the Village of Tinley Park goes beyond directing the band. In 1992, he composed the score for “There's No Place Like Tinley Park,” an original musical production to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Village of Tinley Park, Illinois. Presented during the Centennial weekend of June 27-28, 1992, the town's history was brought to life and enjoyed by hundreds of the town's residents through this educational and entertaining program. In addition to the stage performances, the program was made available for viewing on local cable TV.

In 1994, after 33 years, he retired from his position as District Supervisor of Fine Arts for Bremen Township High School District 228.

In 1995, Steve organized “An Afternoon at The Canteen” performances. These were historic recreations of USO canteens as they appeared in both the United States and Europe at the end of World War Two, featuring music and songs of the era.

Also in 1995 he was commissioned by the Village of Tinley Park to write a march commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War Two as a tribute to the veterans of that war. The march, titled “Broad Stripes and Bright Stars,” has been designated as the official march of the Village of Tinley Park.

Steve directs band members and students during “Education Music Day”

Steve leads the band at the 2001 Winter Concert at Central Middle School, Tinley Park, Illinois.

Additional Steve Platko compositions include:

“Sister City March” (1994), premiered exclusively for the official reception in Tinley Park's Sister City of Büdingen, Germany, as a gift to these communities' cultural exchange program, and was performed by his Community Concert Band musicians.

“Büdingen Sketches” (2000). This original piece was written especially to commemorate Tinley Park's year 2000 Sister City exchange, and which was proudly debuted at a special performance by the Tinley Park “Arts Alive!” Community Concert Band at the castle courtyard in Büdingen, Germany. Steve Platko has given generously given of his time and talents to the enrichment of the Sister City exchange program in Tinley Park, helping it to become an archetype against which other cultural exchange programs are measured.

“Prairie Winds” -- Suite for Symphonic Band (2000). This piece was composed in recognition of the historic origins of the region -- the prairies of the Midwest. It was commissioned by the Joliet Junior College Community Band and premiered at the April 29, 2000 “Cavalcade of Bands” concert at Moraine Valley Community College.

“Concord Bridge” Symphonic March (2000), written for the Joliet Illinois American Legion National Championship Band.

“And God Summoned His Tubae” (2003), written in memory of tuba players Tom Liska and Eric Healy for the Tinley Park “Arts Alive!” Community Band and the Southwest Community Concert Band and premiered at the 14th Cavalcade of Bands on April 5, 2003 at Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois.

In addition to commissioned works for band, Steve has composed and arranged a number of works for the Arts Alive! Community Chorale.

Steve composes works for solo performances, including “North Woods” for piano, a piece performed at a Tinley Park Arts Alive! Band and Chorale recital.

Steve leads the band during a Summer concert at the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center.

Band premiering “Büdingen Sketches” in the castle courtyard at Büdingen, Germany.

Steve contributed many hours to the success of a band adjudication “Education Music Day” benefiting our community's 5th through 12th grade music students. This educational program, held at Prairie View Junior High on February 7, 1998 was funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Under Steve's direction, the Tinley Park Arts Alive! Community Band has experienced significant growth. He is responsible for bringing organization to the band, with the adoption of by-laws and a constitution, a Band Board, he introduced recitals, and helped launch additional groups, such as the Arts Alive! Jazz Band and Arts Alive! Brass ensemble. Steve has also led the Arts Alive! Concert Band has performed in annual community concerts at the Revelli Bandshell in Hobart, Indiana; the “Cavalcade of Bands,” in Palos Hills, Illinois and at Valporaiso University in Indiana.

From 1999-2002, Steve took the Arts Alive! Jazz Band to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois to perform at Park District and Conservation Day.

He has brought international acclaim to Tinley Park by taking his Arts Alive! Bands on tour to Büdingen, Germany in 1994 and 2000. While there, they performed multiple concerts in German villages and at the American Army Base.

On December, 19, 2000, the Village of Tinley Park presented Steve with the Studs Terkel Humanities Service from the Illinois Humanities Council award for his significant contribution to the history and quality of life in the Village of Tinley Park.

Steve and Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki pose with Studs Terkel award.	Marcia Cummins helps Steve show a framed score of his march Broad Stripes and Bright Stars .
Steve thanks the Mayor and Village Board.	The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award

A representative of the Illinois Humanities Council presented the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award to Steve at the December 19, 2000 Village Board meeting. Along with Steve Platko and his wife, many band members were in attendance to present a gift and offer their congratulations.

In 2004, Steve led the band in a tour of Washington D.C. as the band performed in ceremonies surrounding the dedication of National World War II Memorial on Memorial Day weekend. The band under Steve's leadership served as an official representative of the Village of Tinley Park and the State of Illinois.

Steve cuts the cake at his retirement party.

The Platkos on the 2004 Washington trip.

Steve announced his retirement as Music Director of the Tinley Park Community Band at the Monday, June 7, 2004 rehearsal. He cited wanting to spend more time with his family and other projects as the reasons for stepping down as director. Steve is the longest-serving music director in the band's history.

Steve was given a retirement party by the members of the Tinley Park Community Band at the VFW on August 13, 2004.

Although he has retied from the Tinley Park Community Band, he remains active as a composer. Steve's latest work for band, “Dances of Cana,” was premiered on December 16, 2005 by the VanderCook College of Music Band at the International Band and Orchestra Conference Midwest Clinic in Chicago, the premier band clinic in the United States.

On Monday, June 26, 2006, Steve's “Rhapsody on Blues Themes” for clarinet and piano received its world broadcast premier during a live broadcast on radio station WFMT 98.7 FM as part of a live studio concert dedicated to music of Chicagoland composers with Dileep Gangolli performing the solo clarinet part.

Steve after presenting the Platko Award to Pam Pytko (left) and Brian McFadyen (right).

In honor of Steve's legendary contributions, the band created the Stephen J. Platko Award to be given by the band to recognize individuals who have made their own selfless contributions to the band. The inaugural awards were presented at the band's 20th Anniversary Concert on October 20, 2007 with Pam Pytko and Brian McFadyen announced as co-winners with Steve making the presentation.

Also the 20th Anniversary Concert marked the debut of Steve's latest work, Fanfare for an Uncommon Band, written for the Tinley Park Community Band on the occasion of their 20th anniversary and featuring quotations selected from the band's far-ranging repertoire.

Steve's compositions, including many of the pieces premiered by the Tinley Park Community Band, are available through

The Tinley Park “Arts Alive” Community Band thanks Steve
for his 15 years of leadership, dedication and service to our band.
It is a debt that can never be repaid.
The band wishes the best to you and your family in your retirement.