On January 27-30, 2016, the annual Illinois Music Education
Conference will take place in Peoria, Illinois. In addition to the 31 student
musicians at
Downers
Grove North High and
Downers
Grove South High who have been selected to participate in All-State
ensembles, South High’s Madrigal Singers and North High’s Wind Ensemble will be
featured performers during the conference, which is attended by thousands of
student musicians and educators statewide.
"Performing at the prestigious IMEC is a tremendous
honor for us," says Fine Arts Department Chairman Glenn Williams. “It's a
credit to our student musicians that the South High Madrigal Singers have been
selected to perform.” The Madrigal Singers will perform at both the ILMEA All
State Convention as well as the American Choral Directors Association Regional
Convention in Chicago later in February.
Several DGS seniors who are members of the Madrigal Singers
commented about their upcoming performances:
·
“We’re going to be representing all of DGS, so
we’re putting in the extra effort so that we represent our school well,” says
senior Megan Luckett.
·
“Being part of the DGS Madrigal Singers and
performing at All-State makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger,” says
Mariam Mackar. “We have a good reputation of being a really profound type of
group.”
·
“It’s good to be nervous—that means you have a
respect for your audience,” notes Peter Hunt Szpytek.
·
“I’m really excited to perform, and our teacher
Ms. Coster is really pushing us to reach our full potential,” says Sam Del
Rosario.
Other members of the Madrigal Singers include: Tanner
Cameron, Matthew Chiaro, Alana Copeland, Leah Crandell, Matthew Dignan, Cassidy
Dresden, Mia Fallara, Ashley Grudzinski, Gabrielle Henderson, Emily Kaszyk,
Sean McCarhty, Patrick Mitchell, Ben Paynic, Nicole Perillo, Kevin Purackel,
Emily Qualizza, Jeremy Urasache and Lydia Walsh-Rock.
“DGN senior and composer Jeremy Pike, an All-State
composition contest award winner, will have his composition performed live by
the DGN Wind Ensemble on Thursday, January 28, during the Composer Showcase at
the 2016 IMEC,” says Teague.
In addition to student representation at the conference, District
99 faculty members also have leadership roles in the organization, including:
DGS - Joy Belt-Roselieb, All-State Honors Choir Organizational Chair
DGN/DGS - Jennifer Mullen, District 1 Orchestra Division Representative
DGN - Beth O'Riordan, District 1 Choral Division Representative
DGS - Craig Roselieb, Jazz Division President
DGN - Brayer Teague, ILMEA President-Elect
Also at the conference, South High music teacher Greg Hensel
and English teacher Amy Stoops will present to other educators about the
benefits of implementing literacy coaching techniques in music classes.
“Professional organizations run on the spirit of
volunteerism, and District 99 is among the leaders in the state of Illinois
with staff involvement in their professional
organization,” says Williams.
“You would be hard pressed to find another district in
Illinois that has so many student musicians honored or so many faculty
contributing to the professional leadership of the association,” notes Teague.
