Eight music students will represent Homewood-Flossmoor High School at the Illinois Music Educators Association’s all-state ensembles presentation Jan. 28 in Peoria.
Joining the all-state chorus will be junior Kendall Laven, an alto; junior Jazmin Rhodes, soprano; senior Sullivan Matthys, bassist; and sophomore Wesley Schmidt, bassist.
Joining the all-state orchestra will be senior Cameron Elam-Guthrie on bass trombone.
Joining the all-state band are senior Anly Flores on clarinet and senior George Holt on double bass.
Students are invited to audition for the state competition. H-F students started preparing in August for auditions that were held in October. From the auditions H-F had 14 students selected to perform in the District 1 Senior Festival at Elmhurst University on Nov. 19. The Illinois Music Education Association divides the state into nine districts. District 1 includes nearly all of Chicago, plus south and southwest suburbs.
After the concert, the students advanced to another audition for the all-state level honor. These eight students selected for all-state represent the top quarter of students who were selected at the district level.
In addition, senior Judah Crowder of Hazel Crest is being recognized as a Future Music Educator. The Future Music Educator program was created specifically for students who are considering a career in music education. Crowder, the daughter of Glennetta and Ken Crowder, is a trumpet player and the drum major this year for the H-F Vikings Band. She also plays with the Guitar Ensemble and H-F Jazz Band and is in several choirs.
To win the Future Music Educator honor, Crowder completed an application, sat for an interview and submitted supplemental materials.
The IMEA judges also asked who inspired her interest in being a music educator. Crowder named band director Sarah Whitlock, who “actually noticed the leadership in me and the potential I had before I noticed it, and it’s the way she nurtured me to be what I am today.”
IMEA awards the Future Music Educator honor to a small cohort of students in the state who get to attend workshops with collegiate students and teachers in Peoria to help prepare them for a music education career.
The music program at H-F is directed by Sarah Whitlock, band director, with B.J. Engrav, orchestra director, and Steve Sifner, choral director.
