21 Students from District 99 Earn All-State Music Honors

At North and South high schools, both in Downers Grove, 21 student musicians earned all-state Honors in the 2012-213 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band, Composer Showcase, and Future Music Educators Symposium. 

Three students—junior cellist Andrew Molina, senior pianist Ian Williams and senior trombonist Josiah Williams—all of South High, received first chair in the state.

Performance auditions were held last October at Carl Sandburg High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the country. 

“This is a tremendous honor for these students,” said Glenn Williams, chairman of the fine arts department at South High. “All-State selection represents the pinnacle of musical achievement for a high school student musician. We are very proud of the continued success of our student musicians at the all-state level.”

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band groups performed at the Peoria Civic Center Jan. 25-26.

“We are really thrilled for these students and their families,” said Brayer Teague, chairman of the fine arts department at North High. “Many people helped these students achieve this success, beginning with their very first elementary school music teachers and extending to their private-lessons teachers today. North High was very proud to have these incredible musicians representing District 99 at the all-state level.”

The following students were selected:

All-State Honors Choir*

Mara Alvarez – Alto I South High junior

Dan Leahy – Tenor I South High senior

Ashley Maghirang – Alto II –South High senior

All-State Choir

Caitlin Carr –Soprano I - South High junior

Andrew Mahlan – Bass II - South High junior

Savannah Reimer – Soprano I–  South High senior

Christian Siki – Bass I -- South High senior

All-State Honors Orchestra*

Andrew Molina, cello (1st Chair in State) – South High junior

Rachel Pfeifer, cello – North High sophomore

All-State Orchestra

Katie Krainc, violin – North High senior

Katie Portman, violin – North High junior

Rachel Wydra, bassoon – South High junior 

All-State Honors Jazz Combo*

Ian Williams, piano (1st Chair in State) – South High senior

All-State Honors Jazz Band*

Spencer Schillerstrom, tenor saxophone – North High junior 

All-State Jazz Band

Brett Latman, trumpet – North High senior 

All-State Honors Band*

Josiah Williams, trombone (1st Chair in State) – South High senior

Marjorie Fera, trumpet – South High senior

Dan Reeter, clarinet – South High senior

All-State Band

Kelsey Richardson, bass clarinet – South High junior

All-State Music Composition

Spencer Schillerstrom – Jazz Improvisation: 3rd place North High junior

Kaitlin Shannon – Commercial/Popular: 2nd Place North High junior

Future Music Educators Symposium

Erin Elgass North High senior 

* After auditioning, students are placed into either an All-State or All-State Honors group; “Honors” groups represent the highest level of achievement. 

For more information about IMEA, please go to www.ilmea.org.

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