Troy Students to Play in State Junior Music Festival

Twelve band students and three choir students have been selected to represent Troy Middle School at this year’s Illinois Music Educators Association’s District 1 Junior Music Festival, Elementary and Junior High Division.

The students competed against hundreds for the honors, performing selected solo works for the judges to earn their places. Only a small percentage of the very top musicians from about 60 schools were selected, according to Troy Middle School Vocal Music Director Kelsey Hagan.

"It's a great opportunity for them," Troy Middle School Band Director William Goetz said. "These band students practice at home a lot and are taking lessons with great private teachers. As a result, they are among the best musicians in the area."

Troy Community School District 30-C students who made cut to perform at the ILMEA District 1 Music Festival are Tabitha Barowsky, 8th grade, bassoon; Idaris Bright, 8th grade, percussion; Layne Barry, 8th grade, clarinet; Jessica Cruz, 8th grade, flute; Sophia Delgadillo, 8th grade, flute; Rebecca Janovsky, 8th grade, alto; Micah Klima, 7th grade, percussion; Sydney Kurtyak, 8th grade, clarinet; Gabriel Lozada, 8th grade, tenor; Paola Lozada, 8th grade, clarinet; Mitchell Lucas, 8th grade, bass clarinet; Ellen Lundeen, 7th grade, horn; Kaden Monk, 8th grade, trombone; Ava Vaccarella, 8th grade, soprano; and Julie Wang, 8th grade, horn.

The Festival Band, Orchestra and Chorus concert, with the Troy students and more than 500 other student musicians from the southwestern metropolitan Chicago area, will be held Saturday, November 5, at 3 p.m., at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox.

Admission is $5. Children under six will be admitted free.

Photo: Several Troy Middle School band and choir students made the prestigious ILMEA Junior Music Festival, including, back row from left: Ellen Lundeen, Julie Wang, Kaden Monk, Idaris Bright, Jessica Cruz, Layne Barry, Tabitha Barowsky, and Mitchell Lucas Front row from left: Gabriel Lozada, Rebecca Janovsky, Ava Vaccarella, Micah Klima, Paola, Lozada, Sophia Delgadillo and Sydney Kurtyak. (Courtesy of Troy School District 30-C)