Mahomet-Seymour High School choral students participated in the Illinois Music Educators’ Association (ILMEA) All-State and Honors’ Choirs in Peoria January 25-27.
Students were required to audition for a spot in the ILMEA District #3 Choir in October. Seventeen students were selected to represent Mahomet-Seymour High School in the ILMEA District #3 Choir out of hundreds from 40 high schools.
From the District #3 Choir, eight Mahomet-Seymour students were selected for the State and Honors Choir.
Domenic Di Girolamo (senior Bass II), Justin Smith (junior, bass I), and Annie Taber (junior, alto II) were selected for the Honor’s Choir.
The All-State Choir included Gabe Fulk (senior, tenor I), Kyle Kinnamon (Bass I), Hannah Pauza (senior, alto I), and Nate Smith (senior, Bass II).
Hannah Pauza was selected to sing in the solo group for Mozart’s Regina Coeli.
Choral Director, Jill Rinkel said that the participants in the All-State and Honors’ Choirs “represent the very best musicians in the state of Illinois. These students put in a lot of time and effort preparing for a very comprehensive audition. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments.”
Over the three-day span preparing for the State performance, the students spent 17 hours in rehearsal, learning from internationally known conductors.
Rinkel said that three performers came down with the flu while on the trip, and were picked up by their parents Saturday morning before the concert.
“But they got to go on the best part of the journey- the journey of understanding how to make the music come alive,” Rinkel said. “The rehearsals and the performance are uplifting, exuberant, and glorious. I know it an experience that they will cherish for a lifetime.”
“For me, it is a moment of pride to see each of our students work so hard to attain this status and then see them enjoy the fruits of their labor,” Rinkel said. “I am inspired personally by the high quality of musicianship and rejuvenated in my desire to provide wonderful musical experiences for all of my choral students.”
