17 District 95 students going to IMEA music festival
Lake Zurich Middle School North and Lake Zurich Middle School South have a combined 17 students participating in the Illinois Music Educators Association Festival ensembles Nov. 5 at Wauconda High School.
In early October, students from band and orchestra at both schools auditioned for the IMEA District 7 Festival music groups. A total of 17 students from LZMSN auditioned — six students from the symphonic band and 11 students from orchestra.
LZMSS had a total of 30 students participate — 13 students from band and 17 from orchestra.
More than 700 students auditioned for the IMEA junior band and orchestra from middle schools in Lake, Cook and McHenry counties. Students were selected based on their preparation of the audition music.
More than 300 students auditioned for the orchestra and approximately 400 auditioned for the band. Of these 700 students who auditioned, less than 300 made the cut to perform in the festival ensembles, with approximately 130 students in each ensemble.
Lake Zurich orchestra and band students selected to participate include:
Eighth grade: Lake Zurich Middle School North: Caleb Harada, trumpet; Angela Ketcham, viola; Bokun Lee, violin; Sangami Pugazenthi, alto saxophone.
Lake Zurich Middle School South: Rebecca Bieber, flute; Jack Cooney, oboe; Joy Gu, violin; Dan Marshalla, flute; Lauren Maurkiewicz, flute; Rachel Paul, bass clarinet; Noah Strevell, string bass; Nick Thurston, trumpet.
Seventh grade: Lake Zurich Middle School North: Jayme Polites, violin.
Lake Zurich Middle School South: Brianna Brodeur, percussion; Peter Dudek, violin.
Sixth grade: Lake Zurich Middle School South: Allison Huynh, viola; Tyler Papierniak, string bass.
The IMEA Festival is a daylong event at which students are given the opportunity to work in rehearsals and sectionals with a guest conductor. The day concludes with a final concert showcasing the students’ talents and ability to prepare an entire concert in just one day of rehearsals as an ensemble.
The concert begins at 3 p.m. at Wauconda High School.