Three District 300 ensembles headed to state

For the first time possibly in its history, Community Unit District 300 will have three ensembles performing at the 2016 Illinois Music Education Conference, Jan. 27-30 at the Civic Center in Peoria.

Jazz bands from Westfield Community School in Algonquin and Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville, and a districtwide honor choir comprising of top chamber choir performers from Dundee-Crown, Jacobs and Hampshire high schools will perform Jan. 28.

The ensembles went through a competitive selection process to qualify for the conference, said Jennifer Troy, coordinator for music education at the Algonquin-based school district.

The Illinois Music Education Association conference assembles more than 10,000 people each year to attend clinic sessions, performances and networking events.

"(It) is the best professional development for music teachers in the state," Troy said.

Kevin Dobbeck and Keith Pitner will direct the Westfield jazz band. Dundee-Crown's jazz band will be directed by Mark Bettcher, and choral directors Jake Stouffer, Christopher Cherry and Lisa Bettcher will conduct the honor choir.

Westfield music teacher Nancy O'Neill also will be training teachers at the conference on engaging diverse learners using alternative music notation and strategies based on her Fulbright fellowship research in Finland. Her session will be from 2:15-3:15 p.m. Jan. 30.

If that weren't enough, school leaders also are trying to drum up even more interest in the music program. A special international string ensemble concert, dubbed "String Fever," is set for 4 p.m. Sunday at Jacobs High School. The musicians play electric violins, violas and cellos. The ensemble's acclaimed version of Ravel's "Bolero" involves two volunteers and all four band members playing one cello simultaneously. Audience members can play "name that tune" as the ensemble races through 20 best-loved film themes in one arrangement.

"We are doing this to build excitement about string instruments in the orchestra program," Troy said. "We've never done anything like this before. It's a great community event that we'd love to see people come out to."

The show ends with String Fever's "The History of Music ... in 5 Minutes."

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults, and can be purchased online or at the door. For information, visit stringfeverusa.com.

Then, on Jan. 9, the district will be hosting its first Men's Vocal Festival.

"This is to target young men in grades four through nine, to show them the fun and excitement of vocal music," Troy said. "Our participation by boys in the choral ensemble has been declining, so we want to reach out to these kids. We're losing it more at the high school level. These are just new opportunities for outreach for our kids and to show them the excitement that music can bring in their lives."