***William Ly is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
This year, the Kewanee High School Music Department sent 17 kids to Augustana College for the ILMEA District 2 Junior/Senior Band and Chorus Festival.
The ILMEA (Illinois Music Education Association) is a non-profit organization that advocates for music education across Illinois.
The ILMEA hosts festivals for bands, chorus, orchestras, jazz choirs, and jazz bands. The ILMEA also has nomination-based groups like the 9/10 chorus and elementary chorus.
The state is split into nine districts, with Kewanee’s district including area schools such as United Township, Galesburg, and Geneseo.
If a student is one of the top students in their voice part/instruments, he or she will qualify for the ILMEA All-State Festival in January. In some groups, students will go through another audition process for their placement within their respective groups.
At the festival, students begin their day by meeting their groups which contain the other high school musicians from the surrounding area schools. These groups are commonly led by college professors or experienced high school directors.
During the day, students rehearse for 5-6 hours as they prepare for a joint festival at the end of the day.
Next week, the KHS Music Department will send another group of kids to the ILMEA Junior/Senior Jazz Festival at Galesburg Junior/Senior High School.
Festival participants from Kewanee were:
Senior Band:
Cadyn Conley – Flute
Mikayla Israel – Flute
Olivia Ralston – Flute
Annie Campbell – Clarinet
William Ly – Soprano & Tenor Saxophone
Avery Stisser – Trumpet
Quentin Bloome – Percussion
Senior Chorus:
Abigail Wyant – Soprano II
Claire Olalde – Alto I
Karina Wims – Alto II
Trivian Massens – Tenor I
Kaiden Goffrier – Tenor II
Shawn Roller – Bass II
Junior Band:
Kynlee Dwyer – Bass Clarinet
Nora Yaklich – Tenor Saxophone
9/10 Chorus:
Caleb Wyant
Kira Alsup
