Several talented students from Parker Junior High School will perform at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 Regional Band, Orchestra, and Choir Festival. These students successfully navigated a rigorous audition process, competing against peers from over 70 junior high schools across the region.
The students representing Parker are:
- Alani Jeffries (8th grade, flute) – PJH Band
- Emelii Mae Matthys (8th grade, soprano) – PJH Chorus
- Elliott Chan (8th grade, violin) – PJH Orchestra
- Ameya Thigpen (8th grade, cello) – PJH Orchestra
The students will participate in the ILMEA Festival this coming Saturday, Nov. 22, at Unity Junior High School in Cicero.
At the Nov. 17 Board of Education meeting, Elana Reid, band director at Parker, told board members, “It’s a real honor for these students. They worked really hard and prepared an audition.”
The process involved students practicing music and creating an audition video, from which they were selected for an honor group. At the festival, they will engage in a full day of rehearsals alongside other student musicians and a guest conductor, culminating in a public concert later that afternoon.
“So it’s quite an honor to be selected for this, and they’ve worked so hard and we’re so proud that they’re going to be representing Parker,” Reid added.
In other news, District 161 recognized board members in honor of School Board Members Day, observed in Illinois on Nov. 15 to celebrate the outstanding efforts of the state’s nearly 6,000 elected school board members.
