53 Sycamore students named ILMEA All-District Musicians

SYCAMORE – Thirty-three high school and 20 middle school students from Sycamore Community School District 427 were recently selected as members of the 2021 Illinois Music Educators Association All- District Orchestras, Bands, Jazz Bands and Choirs.

Students who were chosen for All-District ensembles recorded material for judges in competitive auditions in October. The students selected to participate in the Orchestra festival performed a concert at Moline High School on Nov. 6. Students selected for the jazz bands performed a concert on Nov. 13, and the selected high school Band and Choir students performed at DeKalb High School on Nov. 20.

“We are exceptionally proud of all our musicians,” Scott Mertens, chair of the Sycamore music department, said in a news release. “In any year, our musicians work and practice diligently and persistently, and they must fit in their musical pursuits around schoolwork and other activities. But in the COVID era, the amount of time and effort it takes to practice and then record music for judging in a virtual but still highly competitive audition environment is truly extraordinary. We’re so pleased with their accomplishments.”

Sycamore High School students selected for the ILMEA All-District festivals include:

HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR

Soprano – Lili Jennings, Lynsey Villarreal; Alto – Annabelle Christensen

HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA

Violin – Sofi Briscoe, Emma Fredericks, Stephanie Kim, Bella Kirchmann, Sophia Klacik, Yu Xuan Ni, Regan Ni, Jeanny Ni, Eva Peterson, Ritta Wi; Viola – Emily Bychowski, Elizabeth Kleckner; Cello – Rebecca Allen, Delaney Baylor, Ethan Bode, Luke Templin; Bass – Daniel Bos, Jon Locascio

HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA WINDS

Oboe – Elizabeth McConkie; Horn – Mitch Edwards; Trumpet – Tryggve Vilaseca; Trombone – Colin Wunner, Sam Crutcher

HIGH SCHOOL BAND

Flute – Avery DeRuyter; Oboe – Jake Rundle; Clarinet – Chloe Harbecke; Trumpet – Aiden Saam; Horn – Aidan Dempsey; Percussion – Greyson Decker

HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND

Trombone – Colin Wunner

Sycamore Middle School students selected for the ILMEA district festivals include:

MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND

Clarinet – Giana Huffstutler, Payton Kalweit; Trumpet – James McConkie; Horn – Evelyn Irwin; Percussion – Noah Bradac

MIDDLE SCHOOL JAZZ BAND

Alto Saxophone – Benjamin Fitzpatrick

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR

Soprano – Felipe Beharovic, Eleanor Klacik; Alto – Morgan Cook, Lyla Hagemeyer, Vega Paetzold, Graham Willrett, Clara Wirsing

MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA

Violin – Marlie Colness, Claire Hua, Lauren Marberry, Maddy Pickard; Viola – Teagan Hagemeyer; Cello – Callista Morton, Evan Tonaki