On Saturday, November 16, 2013, 15 Morrison, IL, Junior High and High School students were collaborating with hundreds of other students from 85 northwestern Illinois schools, at the Illinois Music Educators Association District 8 Festival (IMEA.)
Pictured left-to-right are front row: Allison Houldson, Joy Sipes, Chloe Stingley, Megan Emerson, Cassie Osborn, and Zach Osborn; row two: Morgan Stuhlman, Dallas Wagenecht, Kaleb McCoy, Colleen Elfline, and Eryn Young; row three: Morgan McCulloh, Kurtis Klimson, and Kyle McCoy. Not pictured are Grant Abell and Ashley Hagerman.
These students worked together in a day of rehearsals, to put together two concerts of beautiful choral and instrumental music. Earning a place in one of the festival ensembles is a distinct honor for the students.
In the newly-constructed DeKalb High School students performed in one of five musical ensembles under distinguished guest conductors. Junior ensembles included a band, mixed chorus, and treble chorus. Senior ensembles included a band and a mixed chorus.
Participating in the Senior Band from Morrison were Eryn Young, clarinet, and Colleen Elfline, alto saxophone. Participating in the Senior Chorus were Kurtis Klimson, Kyle McCoy, and Morgan McCulloh.
Participating in the Junior Band were Kaleb McCoy and Morgan Stuhlmann, clarinet; Grant Abell, trumpet; Dallas Wagenecht, euphonium. Participating in the Junior Mixed Chorus were Allison Houldson, Zachariah Osborn. In the Junior Treble Chorus were Joy Sipes, Cassie Osborn, Chloe Stingley, and Megan Emerson.
Two MHS students, Colleen Elfline and Ashley Hagerman, participated in the IMEA District 8 Jazz Festival on Saturday, November 9, at Rochelle High School. Colleen played the second alto saxophone part, and Ashley played vibraphone in the Senior Jazz Band.
Nearly 2000 students auditioned to be a member of these five ensembles; approximately 700 were selected to participate. The Illinois Music Educators Association provides festivals of this sort in nine different regions across the State. More than 12,000 students took part in ILMEA activities.
District 8 comprises the counties of Jo Davies, Carroll, Whiteside, Lee, Ogle, DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, and Stephenson and encompasses more than 100 middle and high schools.