WRITTEN BY MAGGEE BLEYER - STUDENT/MUSIC DEPT/INTERACT CLUB:

On Saturday, November 21st, selected Mount Carmel High School students attended the 2020 ILMEA Senior Level District Virtual Festival. ILMEA, in the past, held this festival at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, festivals had to be virtual this year. Besides the circumstances, students still participated in the festival and enjoyed their special ILMEA experience.  There were two masterclass sessions overall for the festival. The first sessions ran from 9:00 to 10:45, and the second sessions began at 11:00 and ended at noon. The sessions focused on teaching students about the structures of their voice/instrument, enlightening them on music techniques, answered questions from the students, and also explored music-related careers. 

Students auditioned virtually last month for ILMEA. Auditionees were either accepted into Senior Vocal Jazz, Senior Choir, Senior Band, and or Senior Jazz Band. As a result of making ILMEA and participating in the virtual ILMEA festival, students have a greater chance of being accepted into All State or Honors Choir/Band. 

MCHS student attendees include:  

Senior Vocal Jazz sessions - Maggee Bleyer and Jonathon Bader

Senior Choir sessions - Riley Allen, Chase Dowdy, Elijah Gill, Macy Mandrell, James Martin, Timothy Rosignol, Brady Kolb

Senior Jazz Band I Saxophone - Hannah Shular

Senior Jazz Band I Trombone - Elijah Sherman

Senior Band I Tuba - Jacob Wall