Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 middle school student musicians have been selected to participate in two annual regional events sponsored by the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA).
The ILMEA District Festival was held on Saturday, November 2 at Maine West High School. More than 700 of the finest band and orchestra students from over 50 junior high schools in the North Suburban area auditioned for a position in this all-star group.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our top band and orchestra students to meet and perform with talented students from other schools. Students also have the opportunity to work with nationally known conductors,” according to Brian Jacobi, Curriculum Specialist for Instrumental Music.
District 64 students at the District festival included: Emerson – Olivia Davis, clarinet; Tommy Doubleday, trumpet; Sophia Stefaniuk and Allison Paxhia, flute; Eva Nicholson, violin; Amna Sorbun, cello, and, Lincoln – Grace Dziedzic, flute; and Anna Szurzynski, violin. David Thomas from MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights (retired) conducted the band and Dr. Louis Bergonzi from The University of Illinois conducted the orchestra.
The second event was the ILMEA Jazz Festival, which was held on Saturday, November 22 at Barrington High School. Robert Rzeszutko from Carleton Washburne School in Winnetka conducted the Middle School Jazz Band. District 64 participants included: Emerson – Owen Kopka, trombone; and Lincoln – Natalie Eng, Connolly Ferraro and Mark Parages, saxophone. Lincoln teacher Brian Jacobi directed one of the four high school bands at the festival.
District 64 teachers who instruct these students include: Eric Bachmann, Max Hellermann, Brian Jacobi, Natalie Jacobsen, Mary Ciccotelli, Jamie Hestead, and Erica Charous.