3 NBJH Students Selected For State Honor Band

NORTHBROOK, IL — Three Northbrook Junior High musicians were selected by audition to participate in Illinois Music Education Association regional concerts Nov. 4 and Nov. 18, featuring the finest musicians in the state. Andrew Qian, a percussionist in eighth grade, and Anna Huelke, a flutist in sixth grade, are among the 150-member ensemble that will perform in the ILMEA District 7 Junior Festival Honor Band.

"Preparing to audition for this festival is a great learning experience, and acceptance is a true achievement," said Band Director Greg Scapillato.

Over 500 students from 61 schools audition to be selected for this prestigious concert band, which rehearses and performs just one show, all on a single day.

Students will first practice their performance pieces independently for weeks before meeting at Wauconda High School to work with a special guest conductor before the 2 p.m. show on Saturday, Nov. 4.

NBJH band member Sam Saffar, a tenor saxophonist in the eighth grade was also selected by audition to perform in the ILMEA Jazz Festival at 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at Woodstock High School. The ILMEA Jazz Festival includes the best student jazz musicians at both the junior high and high school level. It has a similar structure, and the scope of the auditioning students is the same.

Tickets to either show is $5, children ages 12 and under are free.

» Find out more from the Illinois Music Education Association, District 7

_{Top photo: Northbrook Junior High band students, from left, Anna Huelke, Sam Saffar and Andrew Qian were selected to perform in upcoming Illinois Music Education Association regional concerts that feature the finest middle school musicians in the state.}