Twenty-six Joliet high school students earn spots in state music festival
Students from Joliet Central and Joliet West advanced to the Illinois Music Education Association District 1 events in November.
By Marco Alvarez ·
Twenty-six students from Joliet Central and Joliet West high schools have been named to the Illinois Music Education Association District 1 Festival ensemble. The selection follows a competitive audition process where students submitted video recordings of etudes, prepared pieces, and other performance elements.
The main festival performance is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Oak Park River Forest High School. A separate District 1 Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Joliet West High School. These events allow local musicians to perform alongside peers from across the district.
The group includes twenty-four students from Joliet West and two from Joliet Central. Roster members at Joliet West cover a wide range of instruments, including woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. Specific selections include Vera Barbour on soprano I, Devion Campbell on tuba, and Alexandra Soland on flute. Christian Toth appears on the list for both jazz trombone and trombone.
From Joliet Central, Rocco Jones earned a spot on cello and Elisa Momoh was selected for alto saxophone. The auditions required students to demonstrate technical skill and musicality through their submitted media. The final rosters confirm the participants for the upcoming November performances.
The Illinois Music Education Association hosts these district-level festivals to recognize student achievement in instrumental music. The events serve as a key step in the annual music competition circuit for high school students in the state. Details about the programs and schedules are available on the organization's website.
