Page 20 Excellence In Education Lincoln Daily News January 2026 The Role of the Humanities in Lincoln Community High School Education At Lincoln Community High School, humanities programs such as band, choir and theater continue to play an important role in student development, offering opportunities for creative expression, collaboration and personal growth alongside traditional academic coursework. Music education serves as a cornerstone of the humanities at Lincoln Community High School. Nigel Range, director of bands, brings more than a decade of experience to the program after joining the LCHS staff in 2014. A graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in music education, Range said his own experiences as a student shaped his decision to become an educator and create a welcoming, community-centered environment for students. “For me personally, there was the social aspect of it and the community aspect of it,” Range said. “I was always one of the kids who started the day in the band room and ended the day in the band room.” Range said he wanted to recreate that environment for his students — a place where they feel safe, welcomed and supported. “I wanted to be that person for students,” he said. “I wanted to create that environment for everybody to kind of have a safe place to go, have a place where they felt welcomed, have a place where they felt like they could be themselves.” Beyond emotional support, Range emphasized that music education develops skills students use in many areas of life. He explained that performing and rehearsing music requires quick thinking, collaboration and adaptability. “You have to problem solve—both in the moment and on the fly,” he said. “Whether you’re actively performing or rehearsing, you’re working with everybody — sometimes non-verbally.” Range noted that while not every student will continue music after high school, the benefits of participation extend far beyond the program itself. “It’s still something that you can benefit from just from taking music or studying an
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