The Illinois Music Education Association selected 1,500 students to participate in its 2025 All-State Student Programs in Peoria, Illinois from January 29-February 1, including six Geneseo High School students:
Jacob Berry - Trombone - 10th Grade - All-State Honors Band
Clara Huddleston - Bassoon - 12th Grade - All-State Honors Band
Addison McSparin - Clarinet - 9th Grade - All-State Band
Elizabeth Mroz - Trumpet - 12th Grade - All-State Band
Kara Sancken - Percussion - 12th Grade - All-State Honors Band
Joseph Versluis - Clarinet - 12th Grade - All-State Honors Band
Students in grades 9-12 who participated in the ILMEA District Festivals are also eligible to be selected into ILMEA’s All-State Student Programs.
During the fall of 2024, over 10,000 students from elementary, junior high and high schools around Illinois participated in a virtual audition process and of those auditions, more than 7,000 students were selected to participate in district festivals celebrating student musicians in bands, orchestras, choruses and jazz ensembles.
In addition to the performing ensembles, this group also includes students who applied for and were accepted into the Future Music Educators Seminar for those students interested in pursuing careers as professional music educators, and students who entered the ILMEA Composition Contest and were selected to participate in the Composition Track. This is a unique and exciting track of events designed for exceptional students who are working in the areas of traditional composition, remix, singer/songwriter and other areas of music writing and production.
Students in the performing ensembles represent the best student musicians in Illinois and came together to present a series of All-State Concerts. On Friday, January 31, the 2025 Jazz Night Concert will feature a night of music performed by the student vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles. The All-State Elementary chorus and the inaugural Junior High All-State Chorus Concert, the All-State Concert and the Honors Concerts will be presented on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Each of these ensembles will be led by distinguished conductors and educators from across the country.
The All-State Student Programs run concurrently with the Illinois Music Education Conference, the premier professional development opportunity for music educators in Illinois. This event brings over 12,000 students, educators, parents and music education industry vendors to the Peoria Civic Center to celebrate and promote music education in Illinois.
For more information on the Illinois Music Education Association and opportunities for student musicians and music educators, please visit www.ilmea.org.