Seniors Emma McGill and Austin Schoon, as well as junior Jake Vail, were recently selected to participate events during the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) workshops in January.
Austin was one of five Central students who were selected through a video audition process to perform in the ILMEA District 3 Choral Festival on November 18. That same audition process allowed him to be selected to participate in the Illinois All-State Choir. Austin and around 200 of the top singers from Illinois will rehearse Thursday, January 25 and Friday, January 26, culminating with a performance at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday, January 27.
This is the third straight year a student from Central has been selected to perform. Jackson Harrington performed last year, while Diego Gutierrez performed two years ago.
Jake and Emma composed a piece for a solo instrument and accompaniment last spring as each one’s final project for Music Theory. The objective was to write a piece of music that was playable by a musician, as well as accompanist in real life. Each was able to complete the project and had very strong compositions. Because they did so well on these projects, Central staff encouraged both to submit their pieces for the ILMEA composition contest for 2023-2024 school year. Both agreed to allow their pieces to be submitted, and both were accepted for all state recognition. Jake placed third in the state in the instrumental solo category, while Emma received honorable mention in the same category.
Jake and Emma will represent the Central High School music department at the Illinois Music Education Conference in January. They will have the opportunity to participate in composition workshops and work alongside other composers to learn more about music theory, composing, and arranging. Jake and Emma will also be honored at the All-State Composition Awards concert on Saturday, January 27.
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