Select Downers Grove 5th, 6th Graders Perform With All-State Chorus

Submitted by Downers Grove Grade School District 58.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Downers Grove Grade School District 58 congratulates the 46 fifth and sixth graders selected to participate in the recent Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA)’s All-State Elementary Chorus in Peoria. Only 300 students statewide were selected for this honor.

“Every District 58 elementary school was represented at this year’s ILMEA All-State Elementary Chorus,” said Pierce Downer Principal Justin Sisul, who also serves on the ILMEA Board of Directors. “These students had an opportunity to rehearse and perform under nationally renowned conductors and they took full advantage of the experience with their focused, attentive work and expressive, committed performance! We are incredibly proud of these students who represented our District's commitment to excellence at the state level!”

District 58 students were selected by their participation in the Downers Grove Children’s Choir and with a music teacher recommendation.

When they arrived in Peoria, students joined a combined group of 300 young singers for a three-hour rehearsal, followed by a stunning public performance. The singers split into a boys’ chorus and a girls’ chorus, and each performed a program of inspiring music. Both choirs combined to perform a melodic rendition of “Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive,” as arranged by Joy Hiokawa.

District 58 music teachers directed extra choir practices for the ILMEA students during the weeks leading up to the performance. The students and music teachers alike worked hard, practicing during lunch and other non-class times.

Congratulations to this year’s District 58 ILMEA All-State Elementary Chorus participants:

Maddie Akkawi, Belle Aire

Karthik Kumar, Belle Aire

Norah Rajesh, Belle Aire

Anna Luczak, El Sierra

Emelia Parson, El Sierra

Audrey Curulewski, Fairmount

Ethan DeCastro, Fairmount

Phoebe Musial, Fairmount

Paul Spang, Fairmount

Zoe Rodriguez, Henry Puffer

Matthew Sirota, Henry Puffer

Ajoni Anand, Highland

Olivia Benoit, Highland

Katelyn Hennelly, Highland

Kayla Kellam, Highland

Charlotte Murphy, Highland

Olivia Gornik, Hillcrest

Kristen Kras, Hillcrest

Casey Muzykansky, Hillcrest

Jamari Anthony, Indian Trail

Riley Cain, Indian Trail

Liz Strand, Indian Trail

Jamie Young, Indian Trail

Theo Corrie, Kingsley

Tyler Havle, Kingsley

Hannah Venzon, Kingsley

Sean Casey, Lester

Noah Chansey, Lester

Owen Curran, Lester

Ella Knickerbocker, Lester

Holden Peckenpaugh, Lester

Tatum Ringbloom, Lester

Taylor Sisco, Lester

Jenna Soelberg, Lester

Rylie Conway, Pierce Downer

Fiona Doyle, Pierce Downer

Abby France, Pierce Downer

Katy Heverin, Pierce Downer

Sarah Lampsa, Pierce Downer

Sydney Miller, Pierce Downer

Isaac Moss, Pierce Downer

Anna Figliomeni, Whittier

Annika Isacson, Whittier

Katherine Mielke, Whittier

Addie Potter, Whittier

Megan Quinn, Whittier

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Photo courtesy of District 58