17 Elgin Area School District U-46 students named All-State Musicians
Seventeen Elgin Area School District U-46 high school students will be recognized by the board Monday, Feb. 28, with an "Accent on Achievement" for their outstanding achievements as musicians, as well as one elementary student who placed first in the state in his age range for his original musical composition.
The high schoolers participated in the Illinois Music Education Association competitive audition process to be named All-State Musicians, the highest musical achievement for high schoolers in Illinois.
Selected students performed at the ILMEA's annual music education conference in Peoria in late January.
"These students, guided by our music teachers, have persevered through two years of a pandemic, working hard to progress and challenge themselves," said Jaimie Giraldo, U-46 Coordinator of Fine Arts. "Their success is a testament to their dedication, drive, passion, and grit, as well as to their teachers' commitment and support."
In addition to the high school honors, Saul Castaneda, a sixth-grader at Sunnydale Elementary School in Streamwood, placed first in his age division in the ILMEA's composition contest. His original music composition, "The Curse of a Legend," was written for a small ensemble of musicians, 10 or fewer.
The board will recognize the following students with "Accent on Achievement" certificates at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, in room 140 at the Educational Services Center. The U-46 Board of Education meeting will also be streamed live on the district's YouTube channel and be available for the public to participate via a Zoom webinar at www.u-46.org as well.
Bartlett High School
• Nicole Kamarat, senior, All-State Chorus - soprano I
• Philip Vu, senior, Honors Chorus - bass I
• Abby Juson, senior, All-State Chorus - alto II
• Eric Fox, junior, All-State Chorus - tenor II
• Dinah Garner, senior, All-State Chorus, soprano I
Elgin High School
• Nathan Lopez, senior, All-State Chorus - tenor I
• Shaun Tupaz, senior, All-State Chorus - bass II
• Madeline Conter, junior, Honors Chorus - alto I
Larkin High School
• Ariana Mattos Cruz, senior, All-State Orchestra - violin
• Jackson Baker, senior, Honors Band - trumpet
• Katherine Wynn, junior, composition
South Elgin High School
• Jacob Pangilinan, senior, Honors Chorus - bass I
• Kiera Moore, sophomore, All-State Chorus - alto II
• Nathan Shue, junior, Honors Chorus - bass I
• Mark Berg, senior, Honors Chorus - bass II
• Alejandro Diaz, junior, Honors Chorus - tenor II
• Elijah Clarke, senior, All-State Chorus - bass II
Sunnydale Elementary School
• Saul Castaneda, 6th grade, Composition
ILMEA District IX honors festival
Thirty-one other U-46 students were selected to participate in the ILMEA District IX honors festival, which U-46 participates in annually.
Students from around the suburban area audition before a panel of professional musicians and are selected based on their ranking among their peers.
The U-46 students selected for the ILMEA District IX honors festival are:
• From Bartlett High School: Junior Melanie Swan (chorus - alto II), senior Colleen Fleming (chorus - Alto II); junior Anton Tharakan (chorus - tenor II), junior Ethan Tharakan (chorus - bass I), senior Sophie Leo (chorus - soprano I), sophomore Ava Raspatella (chorus - soprano I), senior Alexandra Feltenberger (chorus - soprano II), junior Emily Nowakowski (chorus - soprano II), senior Nafisa Fahim (chorus - soprano II), junior Lauren Neidlinger (chorus - alto I), sophomore Jamielyn Opilla (chorus - alto I), freshman Landon Kim (orchestra - violin), sophomore Zoey Helle-Kuczynski (band - clarinet).
• From Elgin High School: Senior Emanuel Mendez (chorus - tenor II), senior Matthew Khosrowabadi (chorus - bass I) senior Jocelyn Wagner (chorus - alto II), junior Tori Hinson (chorus - soprano II), junior Stephanie Skrabacz (band - clarinet), junior Jessica Wong (orchestra - violin)
• From Larkin High School: Sophomore Mia Legaspi (chorus - soprano I), senior Emmanuel Legaspi (chorus - tenor I), senior Jackson Baker (jazz combo - trumpet), junior Madelyn Dobbeck (band - trumpet), senior Ella Nail (band - clarinet)
• From South Elgin High School: Senior Kyle Moore (chorus - tenor II), junior Christian Freehill (jazz band II - bass), senior Olivia Diehl (jazz band II - bari sax), senior Payton Kraemer (chorus - soprano II), senior Anna Marie Park (orchestra - viola), senior Erinn Karis (chorus - alto I), freshman Amy Skrzbacz (band - clarinet)
Thirteen elementary and middle school students were also selected to perform in District IX ensembles. They are:
• From Eastview Middle School: eighth-grader Mahi Patel (orchestra - violin), eighth-grader Alyssa Dzien (orchestra - viola), eighth-grader Makayla Preuss (orchestra - violin), eighth-grader Carl Henricksen (band - trumpet)
• From Kenyon Woods Middle School: eighth-grader Christina Park (orchestra - violin), eighth-grader Annika Johnson (orchestra - viola), seventh-grader Olivia Beach (orchestra - bass), eighth-grader Daniel Vo (orchestra - violin), eighth-grader Hannah Greenberg (band - clarinet), seventh-grader Maggie Altergott (orchestra - viola)
• From Kimball Middle School: seventh-grader Molly Smith (orchestra - cello)
• From Larsen Middle School: seventh-grader Hudson Kim (orchestra - violin)
• From Highland Elementary School: sixth-grader Elina Alvarado (band - trumpet)