24 District 99 Students Chosen To Perform At State Music Festival

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Two dozen District 99 students were chosen to join the Illinois Music Education Association's (ILMEA) ensembles and workshops during the 2025 Illinois Music Educators Conference (IMEC).

“Selection to an All-State ensemble is an incredible honor for any high school musician. Our Fine Arts faculty is extremely proud of these students,” Gina Wych, chair of the Fine Arts Department at Downers Grove North High School, said in a statement.

To be considered, students completed and shared a video audition, which a panel of judge evaluated. Those who received the highest scores from the panel were chosen to join the ensembles.

The students from District 99 who will perform are as follows.

• Junior Marley Birch, Honors Chorus, Alto 2
• Senior Sebastian Blanco, Chorus, Bass 2
• Sophomore Vito Caponigro, Chorus, Bass 1
• Junior Jurate Davies, Honors Chorus, Alto 2
• Junior Gabriel Deaton, Honors Chorus, Bass 1
• Abby Heavrin, Chorus, Soprano 2
• Senior Charlie Janka, Band & Orchestra Winds, English horn
• Senior Kyle Kuper , Chorus, Bass 1
• Freshman McKenna McCoy, Honors Chorus, Soprano 2
• Junior Jack Melie, Honors Chorus, Bass 1
• Junior Sara Miski, Honors Chorus, Tenor 2
• Junior Tessa Murphy, Band & Orchestra Winds, Clarinet
• Junior Dean Klibanov, Orchestra, Double Bass
• Senior Caleb McCloud, Orchestra, Violin
• Sophomore, Maya Peterson, Honors Chorus, Tenor 2
• Freshman Eli Yong, Honors Chorus, Soprano 1
• Junior Gretchen Haselhorst, Orchestra, French Horn
• Junior Evangeline Selkin, Orchestra, Flute
• Senior Rebecca Snouffer, Band, Clarinet
• Senior Erika Andreshak, Orchestra, Violin
• Senior Kevin Hernandez, Orchestra, Cello
• Senior Matthew Lin, Orchestra, Cello
• Senior Anthony Lopez, Honors Jazz Band, Trumpet

Justin Barnish, Fine Arts Department Chair at Downers Grove South High School, added, “This is a huge accomplishment for our students, which would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our teachers. To have such a large number of students recognized at the state level is a testament to the work they do on a daily basis."

The festival will be held Jan. 29 through Feb. 1 in Peoria.