Lemont's Roselieb, Shepro Participate in 2015 IMEA All-State Conference

Lemont High School seniors Abigail Roselieb and Rebecca Shepro each participated in the 2015 Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) All-State Conference, which was held from January 29-31 at the Peoria Civic Center. Roselieb is a soprano in the All-State Choir, while Shepro earned first chair honors in Bassoon II for the All-State Band.

The IMEA All-State Conference attracts the top performers from across the state, and includes guest conductors, seminars and a number of concert performances.

While Roselieb’s place within the All-State Choir was set upon her qualification for the All-State Conference, Shepro auditioned at the beginning of the All-State Conference against the state’s other district winners of the Bassoon. That audition determined into which band she placed, as well as which chair she would hold within that band.

Roselieb and Shepro both rehearsed for parts of three days with their respective groups before capping their experience by taking part in concerts on the conference’s final day.

Both Roselieb and Shepro earned their IMEA All-State Conference berths by virtue of their performances at the IMEA All-District Festival, which was held at Lincoln-Way West High School on November 22. Sophomore Allyson Smith (Bb Trumpet) also took part in the IMEA All-District Festival.

Roselieb, Shepro and Smith all advanced to the IMEA All-District Festival after IMEA district auditions (among up to 2,000 other students) at Sandburg High School last fall. All three serve as musicianship leaders in their respective sections in the school’s Choir or Honors Symphonic Band.

Shepro and Smith are among seven Lemont High School students who have been cited to the South Suburban Conference’s All-Conference Symphonic Band. The other honorees include seniors Steven Brija (String Bass), Michael Martinez (French Horn), Alex Micco (Trombone) and Cassandra Smith (Bass Clarinet); and junior Dennis Healy (Trombone). These students will participate in the SSC Band & Choral Festival on March 4 at Reavis High School, under the direction of Elmhurst College’s Dr. Peter Griffin.