Vernon Hills High School, Hawthorn Middle School South Performing at IMEA Conference

Each year, the IMEA All-State Music Conference hosts a four-day festival in Peoria, IL. Music ensembles audition for the opportunity to perform for the thousands of music educators attending the conference. While Vernon Hills High School groups have been invited to the conference in the past, this year is special because VHHS groups from all three areas—band, choir and orchestra—were invited to perform.  

The VHHS Wind Ensemble will present a concert on Saturday, Jan. 26, with the Hawthorn Middle School South Band. The VHHS combined Treble Choirs and VHHS Symphony Orchestra strings will perform on Friday, Jan. 25. One special note: The Choir and Orchestra will be performing the world premiere of a commissioned piece by well-know composer, Robert Convery from New York, who to wrote the new piece just for the VHHS choir and orchestra. The title of the piece is "Working Girls," and is adapted from the poetry of Illinois poet Carl Sandburg. The poems trace the lives, hopes and internal struggles of women working in turn-of-the-century Chicago.

“We have been preparing this work for months and are very excited about sharing it with our colleagues in Peoria,” noted VHHS Fine Arts Supervisor and Orchestra Director Frank Lestina.

Hawthorn Middle School South Slated to Perform

Hawthorn Middle South’s 7th and 8th grade Symphonic Band members are busy preparing for one of the most prestigious performances of their musical careers. The group has been invited to perform for the Illinois Music Educators Association annual conference at the Peoria Civic Theater at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26. The group was selected after conference organizers reviewed audition tapes from hundreds of middle school and high school ensembles.

“The Hawthorn community has a long tradition of excellence in fine arts,” notes Middle South’s veteran band director, Jim Garbrecht. “These kids are tremendous musicians who have been working very hard to perfect their skills. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Special Preview Concert to be Held

Vernon Hills High School and Hawthorn Middle School South will perform a special preview concert in the VHHS Auditorium at 7 p.m. Jan. 21. The concert is free and open to all.

—This information was provided by Community High School District 128 and Hawthorn District 73.