District auditions are a nerve-wracking event for singers and instrumentalists. IMEA, or Illinois Music Educators Association, is the organization for all the music programs in Illinois. “It’s the equivalent to IHSA for sports players,” says Senior Dominic Scott. District auditions are open for anyone in a music program who wants to try out, and they happen once every school year.
Auditions can be intimidating. Individuals go into a room with only a judge and the participant. The judge picks two out of four of the district pieces for musicians to sing acapella or play on their instrument. One of the music pieces has been practiced and the other the musician is seeing for the first time and will have to read. Singers also have to do scales and sight sing. Sight singing is when the judge gives a starting pitch and the singer will have to sing sixteen measures.
Individuals who make districts will perform four pieces of music at the Fall Concert Festival. At the festival, the chosen musicians are also being judged. If the judges thought a participant had a great audition and did well at the festival, the musician can be chosen to go to State.
JHS students who made it are:
Band- Clayton Oberg and Josiah Burchard
Orchestra- David Ballard, Sheldan Grable, Michael Kyle, Matt Luth, Gabe Megginson, Emily Miney, and Jacob Roth
Chorus- Anna Fergurson, Megan Heitbrink, Gabe Knott, Brian Leach, Marie Lockwood, Jessica Olsen, Evan Rumler, Dominic Scott, and Jordin Wyatt
Jazz Band- Josiah Burchard, Caleb Elmore, Michael Kyle, Clayton Oberg, Kaleb Rhea, and Codey Thomas
Vocal jazz ensemble- Matt Hall and Evan Rumler
The Fall Concert Festival will be held at Western Illinois University in Macomb on November 3. Congratulations to all of the musicians who made it!