FROM THE MARCHING FIELD TO THE BIG BAND

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February 16, 2026

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Nick LewAllen and the enduring power of music at Notre Dame Prep: a tradition renewed each year at the Big Band Dinner Dance.

When the lights go up at 6 p.m. on May 16, 2026, the Lafayette Grande Ballroom in downtown Pontiac will once again resonate with the sound of swing, brass and tradition. Notre Dame Prep’s annual Big Band Dinner Dance will feature the Honors Jazz Ensemble alongside returning alumni musicians for an evening of dinner, dancing and live performance  —  an event that has become a defining celebration of the school’s music program.

Among the alumni returning to the stage will be trumpeter Nick LewAllen NDP’08, a graduate whose connection to the band program did not end at commencement. Instead, it has deepened across nearly two decades, and reinforced the continuity and purpose that prospective families often seek when evaluating an arts-centered Catholic education.

A lineage of excellence in music education

The award-winning band program at Notre Dame Prep is what some consider a direct descendant of the Marist-run Harper Woods Notre Dame High School’s band, a program founded by its first director, Larry Egan. As a passage inside the 1963 NDHS yearbook noted, the band was “one of the most active organizations in the school,” performing for nearly 250,000 people in a single year through parades, halftime shows and civic celebrations.

That legacy remains evident today, perhaps even to the power of 10.

Notre Dame Prep bands perform at football games, pep rallies, exhibitions, competitions and parades, preparing ambitious marching shows and diverse repertoires that have included music by Elton John, Queen, Earth, Wind & Fire, selections from Star Wars, The Incredibles, Batman and Thriller. Overseas trips also typically get added to the band schedule with England, Italy and Hawaii serving as recent destinations.

The program’s success also depends on a partnership — students, alumni, parents, educators and community — informed by a shared respect and appreciation for music.

Choosing NDP for the arts

For LewAllen, the breadth of opportunity within that tradition was decisive. “My reason for choosing NDP ultimately came down to the performing arts program,” he said. “I was seeking not only a quality Catholic education, but also the ability to express my creative side in a nurturing environment that would keep me growing.”

While researching private schools as an eighth grader at Holy Family Regional School, LewAllen noted that some options lacked music programs altogether.

“NDP was at the top of the list,” he said. His interest became commitment after a visit from the marching band during his eighth-grade year. Then-director Joe Martin led the ensemble in a fall show performed in the gymnasium. “I was very impressed and effectively made my preference of NDP known at that time,” LewAllen recalled.

Growth through performance and mentorship

Once enrolled, LewAllen immersed himself fully in the program. He joined the marching and symphony bands as a freshman and added jazz band the following year. “That quickly became my favorite hour of the day,” he said.

The focus on jazz expanded his musicianship and expectations. During his senior year, Martin invited LewAllen to sit in at a rehearsal with the Jump Street Swing Band, a semi-professional jazz ensemble. “The interest and passion for jazz led to pushing the boundaries I had as a player,” LewAllen said. He later became an official member of the group and continued performing with it after graduation, further refining his technique.

Beyond school ensembles, LewAllen performed in pit orchestras for school musicals and served as principal trumpet with the Oakland Youth Orchestras organization during his senior year. “I am grateful to Mr. Martin for recognizing my interest level and encouraging my continued development,” he said.

A lifelong connection to the band

LewAllen graduated from NDP in 2008, but his relationship with the program continues. “I’m thrilled to be returning to play in the BBDD,” he said. “Since I graduated, I’ve been part of the alumni band every year since. I’ve been lucky to have the flexibility to clear up my schedule to perform again each year and it’s always a blast.”

Today, while professional responsibilities limit his practice time, the foundation remains.

“These days, I am focusing strongly on my career, and the trumpet has taken somewhat of a back seat,” LewAllen said. “But playing the trumpet for me is like riding a bike in a way. A certain amount of time can go by, and the overall skill is still present, but I do try to practice every now and then to maintain my stamina for each Big Band Dinner Dance.”

From jazz band to information technology

That balance between creativity and discipline extends into LewAllen’s professional life. After graduating from Oakland University with a degree in information technology, he joined General Motors and has worked in the company’s IT organization ever since. He continues to live in Southeast Michigan and stays close to his family, maintaining ties to the community that helped shape his education.

Why the Big Band Dinner Dance matters

For prospective families, the Big Band Dinner Dance offers more than an evening of entertainment. It is a living demonstration of how Notre Dame Prep’s band program cultivates skills that endure — technical mastery, collaboration, confidence and lifelong appreciation for the arts. Alumni musicians like LewAllen return not out of obligation, but because the experience remains meaningful.

According to current band director and alum Claire Zavolta-Force NDP’10, attendees at the 2026 Big Band Dinner Dance will enjoy dinner, dancing and the thrill of listening to the school’s talented student and alumni musicians in a setting that celebrates continuity across generations.

“We hope you will be able to join us for this special evening,” she said. “And stay tuned for more information on tickets.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.