Wheeling scores big win at IMEA; looks forward to Jazz in the Meadows
Tucked away, back in the practice rooms of Wheeling High School, Samantha Melinyshyn and Andrew Panzer have spent hours jamming with jazz CDs, as a way to hone their playing skills and sense of rhythm.
Whether during their lunch hour or after school, the two band students loved challenging and encouraging one another, Panzer on trumpet and Melinyshyn on trombone.
Now, their passion for music, and more specifically jazz, has paid off. At last month's All State Festival, hosted by the Illinois Music Educators Association, the two Wheeling seniors not only were selected for the All State Jazz Band, they were named to the festival's Honors Combo.
The prestigious combo has only seven players, the best trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, bass, drums and guitar in Illinois.
"To have two students selected for this all-star, all state group of the best high school jazz musicians in Illinois is an incredible accomplishment," said Brian Logan, Wheeling High School director of bands.
Hundreds of the best high school jazz musicians from high schools all over Illinois auditioned back in October for one of the All District Jazz Ensembles.
This is good news for Wheeling High School and its Fine Arts department, but could be intimidating to area jazz bands headed to the 24th annual Jazz in the Meadows festival Feb. 28, where Wheeling is the defending grand champion.
Judging by these latest accolades, Wheeling's ensemble looks just as good as ever.
"(Samantha and Andrew) have also done a lot of listening to jazz and have a large jazz library of recordings," Logan adds. "They both have an incredible amount of talent that is matched by their tremendous work ethic. They really are very special young musicians."
Still, there are plenty of other jazz programs in their Large School division to give them a run for the money, starting with Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, grand champion at Jazz in the Meadows in 2007 and 2005.
Last month, all three of Hersey's jazz ensembles, including the Jazz 1, Jazz 2 and Jazz Combo, won their respective categories at the Purdue Jazz Festival in West Lafayette, IN, out of the 97 ensembles who participated.
They also have some award wining soloists, including senior alto saxophone player, John Hubberts and sophomore bass player Kelsey Buffa, both of Arlington Heights, who were among the three outstanding soloists in the Big Band competition.
Of course, Jazz in the Meadows, is first and foremost about educating the young musicians who attend. Chris Buti, Rolling Meadows band director, points to the panel of professional musicians and educators who critique the groups' performances, as well as the clinics and open jam sessions going on throughout the day.
In all, 68 schools will be participating - from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri - offering 115 performances by their young jazz musicians. Special guests are the DePaul University Faculty Jazz Combo playing at noon in the theater, as well as Mulligan's Mosaics Big Band headlining the grand finale concert.