From Jan. 28-31, nine LT students attended the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Festival in Peoria. Maya Bylsma ‘26 and Clara Deroche ‘26 were selected from orchestra; Max Holtz ‘26 and Jack Rhoten ‘28 from band; Audrey Tromp ‘27  for vocal jazz; and Avery Lusk ‘26, Jorie Phillips ‘27, Thomas King ‘27, and Jackson Vaughn-Kajmowicz ‘26 from choir. Tromp and King were also selected to attend the festival last year.

“It is an excellent feeling to be recognized for all the hard work I put in,” Deroche said. “Playing the violin is so important to me, and after so many years of practice, it feels really good to see the hard work pay off.”

The honorees were chosen based on their initial auditions at districts in the fall.

“Students make an audition video with several components, and it is evaluated by a judge,” Choir Director John Musick said. “The singers that were selected are the best of the best on their part.”

LT is one of 80 schools that participate in the auditions for District 1. There are nine districts in Illinois, with District 1 having the largest number of participating schools and approximately 2,400 students.

“It’s kind of overwhelming in a way, but it’s also really fun, because you’re surrounded by the best people in the state, so you’re making great music,” Lusk said.

Once selected for the festival, the musicians shifted their focus to rehearsing for the main performance. Getting ready for such a highly selective event does not just start weeks or even months before the competition. It begins years before, when students commit themselves to their music. 

“Preparing for the audition took countless hours of slow tempos, careful playing, and numerous recordings that now sit dormant in my gallery,” Holtz said.

Once selected for the festival, the musicians shifted their focus to rehearsing for the main performance. 

“It’s a very strenuous rehearsal process, and the highlight is obviously the performance that is on Saturday,” Orchestra Director Jan Matthews said. “I think the kids love just getting to play with students from other schools, and they work with fantastic conductors.”

At least one student hopes to make a career that incorporates their musical talent.

“I want to be a music therapist, which is basically using music as therapy for anybody. I can hopefully minor in musical theater,” Phillips said.

Many of the students attending the festival plan to pursue music after high school. 

“I have been wanting to go into music in college, and knowing that I am at the All-State level in performing gives me a huge confidence boost going into auditions for schools,” Holtz said. “The moment I was notified of my placement, I sent every school I applied to an extra notice because of how proud I was of it.”