Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 had 10 middle school student musicians selected to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association Festival sponsored by the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA). Students spent months preparing their virtual auditions for submission. More than 1,000 of the finest band and orchestra students from more than 50 junior high schools in the North Suburban area auditioned for a position in these all-star groups.
“Meeting and performing with their talented peers from other schools across the region is inspiring for our students, along with the opportunity to learn under the direction of talented, well respected and known conductors,” according to Erica Faulhaber, Curriculum Specialist for Instrumental Music. “We are thrilled that our students competed and were selected by ILMEA for this year’s performing ensembles,” she added.
The event will bring together the top band and orchestra students for the ILMEA District 7 Festival on Saturday, November 4 at Glenbrook South High School. The jazz festival will be on Saturday, November 18 at Lake Zurich High School.
District 64 students selected to participate in the festivals include:
- Emerson – Annie Bowles, flute; Sam D., trumpet; Jasmyn Knipping, tenor sax and jazz tenor sax; Isabella Roszko, violin
- Lincoln – Maxwell Chandler, bass; Emily Compton, flute; Beatrice Conroy, flute; Rose Hassman, viola; Elliott Poole, jazz trombone; Hannah S., viola.
William Owens, a former Texas band director and current composer who has written over 150 commissioned and published works, will conduct the band. Dana Green, Director of Orchestras at Vernon Hills High School and director of the Chicago Youth Symphony’s Debut Orchestra, will conduct the orchestra.
In addition to Faulhaber, other District 64 teachers who instruct these students include: Elisabeth Ballinger, Natalie Briggs, Max Hellermann, Ilona Hutter, Sean Rybak, Alex Teater and Connor Yoon.