From Jan. 30 through 31, North students from chamber orchestra and jazz workshop performed for the All-State Conference at the Peoria Civic Center.
All-State Conference is a concert competition where selected schools are chosen to compete, as well as celebrate student musicians in bands, orchestras, choruses and jazz ensembles. On Jan. 30, chamber orchestra performed for the educators, and on Jan. 31, they also attended a conducting clinic. It was the first time in 25 years that a single school had two ensembles represented at a state level.
“The conference is to bring music educators together and have them learn from each other through clinics and concerts,” said Sheridan Settipani, senior.
Each group’s music director had to send in an audition tape of their respective groups’ pieces they performed in the past to be picked to represent North against other schools. Students, who were selected from both jazz workshop and chamber orchestra, had to send in an audition a year before for the ensemble placement.
“For this audition, they prepare collegiate-level repertoire, which is evaluated by an adjudicator. Each student receives a score and may then be selected to participate in a festival at the District level. [Illinois is divided geographically into nine districts],” said Kevin Dobbeck, band director. “From the pool of district participants, the highest-scoring students from each instrument or section are then considered for selection to the All-State Festival in January.”
Along with the North’s ensembles performing, the Illinois Music Education Association also hosts a similar musical event called the State Honors Music Festival. In this festival, a chosen student with professional-level experience will be a conductor for their ensemble performance.
“The students undergo an intensive, condensed rehearsal process, culminating in a performance after two days of preparation,” said Kevin Dobbeck, band director. “This year, North had three students selected to participate: Abby Potts and Natalie Van Dorpe for vocal jazz, and Riley Stitz for orchestra.”
There were over 1,500 students grades nine through 12 who were selected for the conference. The North students worked hard, and even though many were nervous, several agreed that they gave a great performance.
“The nerves are normal for me and many other musicians. Playing in front of a crowd of skilled musicians and educators really pushed me to want to perform my best,” said Anna Gagne, senior.
It was an event that publicly showed the work these musicians put in to be as talented as they are.
“I do remember having fun and hanging out with everybody from the two groups in our holding area before our performance, and as someone who’s in both ensembles, that was like watching my two worlds collide, which was a nice feeling,” said Riley Stitz, junior.
