District 64 band, orchestra and jazz musicians from its middle schools have been selected to participate at two 2017 regional events sponsored annually by the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA).
“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 nationally known conductors,” according to Brian Jacobi, D64 Curriculum Specialist for Instrumental Music. “We are delighted that so many of our students competed and were selected by ILMEA for this year’s groups,” he added.
Ten students will be performing at the upcoming events:
- The top band and orchestra students will gather for the ILMEA District 7 Festival on Saturday, November 4 at Wauconda High School. More than 700 of the finest student musicians from over 50 junior high schools in the North Suburban area auditioned for a position in this all-star group. District 64 students selected to participate include: Emerson – Joseph Boyd, percussion; Kyungsoo Chon, violin; Charlie Doubleday, double bass; Nathan Fernando Munoz-Lo, cello; and, Lincoln – Zachary Hassman, cello; Benjamin McCarrick, trumpet; and Isabella Staar, viola. Elizabeth Peterson from the University of Illinois will conduct the band, and David Eccles from the VanderCook College of Music will conduct the orchestra.
- The finest Jazz musicians will gather for the ILMEA Jazz Festival on Saturday, November 18 at Woodstock High School. District 64 participants include: Emerson – Declan Cunningham, trumpet, and Timothy Wilcox, trombone; and Lincoln – Thomas Locascio, tenor sax, and Benjamin McCarrick, trumpet. Glenn Williams from Downers South High School and Richard LoPresto from Bernotas Middle School will conduct the Middle School Jazz Bands.