It all started in 1939. This was the first year for the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA).

Now, 84 years later, the association has continued its goal of widespread music education with its annual district and All-State conventions.

On Saturday, select LFHS students will participate in the ILMEA District 7 festival. The chosen music students are Timotei Dan, Victoria Garcia de Leaniz Hernandez, Kate Kim, Leo Rubin, Alexandra Anderson, Declan Boyle, Siobhan Boyle, Nora Sharman, Aiden Watts, and Kaden Whiteside.

Junior Nora Sharman is excited to participate in the festival for her second year.

“It’s an opportunity I won’t get anywhere else,” said Sharman. “You only find out you got in a week or two before the festival, so learning the music is always a time crunch. But it always works out in the end!”

Students in band, orchestra, or choir spend weeks preparing for their audition. Once the audition is in, they wait until just a little before the distinct festival to find out if they got in.

Choir director Mr. Begale says the choir auditions are “a lot of work.”

“They give you five songs to prepare and your excerpts have to be pristine,” said Begale. “It’s super high level musicianship and you have to have everything right on that recording.”

Students need to go above and beyond to be considered for this opportunity. 

Junior Victoria Garcia de Leaniz Hernandez says she even made an “extra submission.”

“I auditioned with two instruments, so I had to record two separate videos,” said Garcia de Leaniz Hernandez. “I did several recordings days ahead of  time. I had to record for several hours straight.” Garcia de Leaniz Hernandez auditioned with both the b flat clarinet and contra-alto clarinet.

Once they audition, the music students wait to hear back to see if they get a chance to partake in the prestigious festival. Once they make it, the students excitedly wait and prepare for the fast-approaching festival.

The festival itself is jam-packed with activities and rehearsals leading up to a performance that evening.

“For choir participants, students start off in sectionals for the first hour and then go into an auditorium for five hours of rehearsal,” said Begale. “They work on the repertoire that they’re going to perform that evening with a guest conductor at a collegiate level.”

The music produced that evening is considered top-notch and highly esteemed. And not only do the results speak for themselves, students can find a substantial benefit in attending as well.

“When you’re with a large group of people who are highly motivated and all at a really high skill level, it opens you up to a different kind of motivation,” said Begale. “It gives music a different impact for you.”

That impact is felt by the students. Sharman attended both the district and All-State festival last year.

“The day is intense, but so rewarding,” said Sharman. “It’s an amazing experience.”