Every year, York music students can choose to audition for honors band, orchestra, and choir groups for the Illinois Music Education Association (IMEA). This year, like every year, a large number of students from each performing group made the district group, and multiple students made the even more competitive groups for state.

The auditions are a series of prepared pieces and short segments to be sight-read, both in front of judges who give scores based on the performance. These auditions first take place at the district level. After which, students who are chosen for district audition a second time and the top students are placed in the state groups.

The state performances took place this past weekend (February 29-31) in Peoria.

“It opens your eyes to the experience choir gives you. After rehearsing, even for just ten minutes, you can feel a difference in your approach to music,” junior choir member Lena Stojiokovich said.

Congratulations to all district and state performers!