Several student musicians at Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South High School were selected by audition for the Illinois Music Education Association All-State Band, Orchestra, Choir, Composition and Jazz Workshop.
Students submitted video auditions, which were evaluated by a panel of judges.
The top scorers participated in the District Music Festival, which was held in November. Of those who participated in the festival, the highest-rated students across Illinois earned the title of All-State Musicians.
“Selection to an All-State ensemble is an incredible honor for any high school musician. Our Fine Arts faculty is extremely proud of these students,” said Gina Wych, Fine Arts Department Chair at Downers Grove North High School.
The selected student will represent their respective school at the Illinois Music Educators Conference in Peoria in January 2025.
“This is a huge accomplishment for our students, which would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our teachers. To have such a large number of students recognized at the state level is a testament to the work they do on a daily basis,” said Justin Barnish, Fine Arts Department Chair at Downers Grove South High School.
The following students from North High will participate in the 2025 ILMEA All-State Festival:
Orchestra Strings
Dean Klibanov (11) - Double Bass
Caleb McCloud (12) - Violin
Chorus
Gabriel Deaton (11) - Bass I (Honors Chorus)
Band & Orchestra Winds
Charlie Janka (12) - English Horn (Band)
Tessa Murphy (11) - Clarinet (Band)
The following students from South High will participate in the 2025 ILMEA All-State Festival:
Chorus
Marley Birch (11) - Alto II (Honors)
Sebastian Blanco (12) - Bass II (All-State)
Vito Caponigro (10) - Bass I (All-State)
Jurate Davies (11) - Alto II (Honors)
Abby Heavrin (11) - Soprano II (All-State)
Kyle Kuper (12) - Bass I (All-State)
McKenna McCoy (9) - Soprano II (Honors)
Jack Melie (11) - Bass I (Honors)
Sara Miski (11) - Tenor II (Honors)
Maya Peterson (10) - Tenor II (Honors)
Eli Yong (9) - Soprano I (All-State)
Band & Orchestra Winds
Gretchen Haselhorst (11) - French Horn (Orchestra)
Evangeline Selking (11) - Flute (Orchestra)
Rebecca Snouffer (12) - Clarinet (Band)
Orchestra Strings
Erika Andreshak (12) - Viola
Kevin Hernandez (12) - Cello
Matthew Lin (12) - Cello
Jazz Band
Anthony Lopez (12) - Trumpet (Honors)