Six Schaumburg students recently represented their school at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) event, performing alongside some of the top high school musicians from across the state. Their participation reflects months of preparation, dedication, and a commitment to musical excellence.
The ILMEA selection process is highly competitive. Each fall, students submit recorded video auditions that are evaluated through a rigorous review process. Based on these auditions, top students are selected to participate in the ILMEA District 7 Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Jazz Ensembles. Following performances at the District 7 Festivals in November, the highest-ranking musicians are invited to perform at the prestigious ILMEA All-State ensembles.
Students selected for ILMEA have the opportunity to perform in a wide range of ensembles, including band, choir, orchestra, instrumental jazz, and vocal jazz. In addition, students may apply for specialized opportunities such as the Composition Workshop and the Future Music Educators Seminar, which allow them to explore music beyond performance alone.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of ILMEA is witnessing the growth students experience while preparing for auditions. Students work on advanced musical material that challenges their technical skills, musicianship, and discipline. Through persistent effort and determination, many show remarkable progress over the course of their preparation,” said Mr. Inendino, the music director.
Participation in ILMEA leads to noticeable long-term growth, regardless of whether students advance to the All-State level. The audition process helps students develop stronger musical skills and teaches them how to break down complex tasks. For those selected, the experience of collaborating with passionate peers from across Illinois is especially impactful. Over the three-day All-State experience, students learn from one another and gain insights they bring back to their school ensembles.
ILMEA also plays an important role for students considering music in college or as a future career. The audition materials closely mirror the level of rigor required for college music auditions, giving students valuable experience with preparation, performance expectations, and artistic professionalism.
Ultimately, ILMEA provides students with an opportunity to challenge themselves and grow as expressive, detailed musicians. Whether as instrumentalists, vocalists, or composers, participants experience music-making at a higher level while forming connections that often continue into college and beyond.
The Schaumburg community congratulates these six students on their outstanding achievement and looks forward to seeing their continued success in future ILMEA performances.
“I attended the Future Music Educators Seminar at All State, which was really fun and informative. I gained a better understanding of what majoring in music education and my career will look like. It was a great time and I also met a lot of awesome people from all over Illinois!” remarked Nic Dragomirov, a senior.
“My favorite part of ILMEA All-State was the rehearsals. The conductor gave us a lot of insightful advice, which significantly leveled up my musicianship. It was also fun going shopping and eating dinner with my friends. It was a wonderful experience to have, and I am really grateful for the opportunity,” added Harune Nagaya, also a senior.