District 207 student musicians earn spots in 2026 ILMEA District 7 Honors Ensembles
District 207 has announced that 45 student musicians from Maine West, Maine East, and Maine South High Schools have earned placement, by competitive audition, into the 2026 Illinois Music Education Association District 7 All-District Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz Ensembles.
To earn this distinction, students submitted audition videos that were evaluated and scored by a panel of professional musicians. The top-scoring students from across the region were then selected to perform in the prestigious ILMEA District 7 Festivals. The Band, Choir, and Orchestra Festival will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, at New Trier High School, and the Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Zion-Benton Township High School.
Selection to these ensembles represents an outstanding musical achievement and reflects many hours of dedicated practice on challenging audition materials. District 207 is proud of these talented student musicians for their commitment to excellence in the arts.
Congratulations to the following students who will represent District 207 in the ILMEA District 7 honors ensembles:
Maine East High School
• Annie Bowles, 11th grade, Flute, Senior Band
• Jonathan Escobar, 12th grade, Bass 1, Senior Chorus
• Zchelynmer Van Gamboa, 12th grade, Tenor II, Senior Chorus
• Marianne Maldonado, 12th grade, Soprano I, Senior Chorus
• Isabella Solano, 12th grade, Alto 1, Senior Chorus
• Alyssa Suarez, 11th grade, Alto I, Senior Chorus
Maine South High School
• Giselle Barcinas, 10th grade, Alto II, Senior Senior Chorus and Alto, Vocal Jazz II
• Molly Beardsley, 11th grade, Soprano II, Treble Chorus
• Alexander Bordini, 10th grade, Bass, Vocal Jazz II
• Tessie Bradley, 12th grade, Alto II, Treble Chorus
• Asher Corelitz, ninth grade, Trumpet, Senior Orchestra
• Thomas Dickinson, 12th grade, Trombone, Jazz Band III
• Emma Erickson, 12th grade, Soprano I, Senior Chorus
• Sophie Erickson, 10th grade, Alto 1, Senior Chorus
• Eli Faulkner, 12th grade, Alto I, Treble Chorus
• Erik Graves, 12th grade, Bass 1, Senior Chorus and Bass, Vocal Jazz I
• Rose Hassman, 11th grade, Viola, Senior Orchestra
• Amelia Keefer, 11th grade, Alto II, Treble Chorus
• Diana Kutynska, 10th grade, Soprano, Vocal Jazz I
• Juliet Lassa, 11th grade, Alto 1, Senior Chorus and Alto, Vocal Jazz II
• Annika Lee, 10th grade, Alto II, Treble Chorus
• Charlotte Looby, 11th grade, Soprano II, Treble Chorus
• Andriana Margaris, 12th grade, Soprano II, Senior Chorus and Soprano, Vocal Jazz I
• Reed Maurer, 12th grade, Bassoon, Senior Band and Tenor Saxophone, Jazz Band I
• Connor McCarty, 12th grade, French Horn, Senior Orchestra
• Paxton Miller, 12th grade, Bass Trombone, Senior Band
• Alyssa Moriello, 11th grade, Soprano I, Senior Chorus
• Thomas Moriello, ninth grade, Tenor, Vocal Jazz II
• Milos Nedic, 11th grade, Bass, Vocal Jazz II
• Nathan O’Brien, 12th grade, Tenor 1, Senior Chorus and Tenor, Vocal Jazz I
• Lauren O’Sullivan (12th grade) Soprano 1, Senior Chorus
• Maya Plaza, 10th grade, Trumpet, Jazz Band III and Senior Orchestra
• Jagoda Samborska, 11th grade, Soprano II, Treble Chorus and Soprano, Vocal Jazz II
• Ramona Schroer, 10th grade, Harp, Senior Orchestra
• Will Seiter, 12th grade, Trumpet, Jazz Band IV
• Hannah Seo, 11th grade, Viola, Senior Orchestra
• Riley Soderberg, 10th grade, Soprano I, Treble Chorus
• Syd Spychalski, 11th grade, Tenor 1, Senior Chorus and Tenor, Vocal Jazz I
• Luke Steffens, 12th grade, Clarinet, Senior Band
• Justin Wiland, 11th grade, Tenor II, Senior Chorus and Tenor, Vocal Jazz II
• Dominic Wynne, 11th grade, Bass II, Senior Chorus and Bass, Vocal Jazz II
Maine West High School
• Jack Brody, 11th grade, Trumpet, Senior Band
• Caitlin Paunilian, 11th grade, Violin, Senior Orchestra
• Paul Eric Reyes, 11th grade, Bass I, Senior Chorus
• Victor Striyeshyn, 11th grade, Tenor Sax, Jazz Band IV
“We are thrilled to have 45 talented students representing District 207,” Maine South Fine Arts Department Chair Dr. Teralyn Keith said. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication, perseverance, talent, and passion these students have for music. We are incredibly proud of the hard work and artistry they brought to this achievement.”