A&E
Six Uni musicians to perform at all-state festival this week
From left, Uni's IMEA all-state musicians are Daisy Hassani, Lucy Zhang, Ethan Berl (front), Alex Cahill, Jennifer Roloff, and Paige Martin. (Gargoyle photo by Carl Zielinski) (click to enlarge)
By Carl Zielinski
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007 The OG, features & arts
WHEN JUNIOR Ethan Berl ended his audition for the Illinois Music Educators Association district competition, he wasn't at all confident about how he had done.
“When I finished and came out of the room, I thought I had done poorly,” said Berl, who sings tenor I.
Fellow Uni singer Paige Martin, an alto II, felt the same way about her audition.
“A car alarm was going off outside the window,” the senior recalled. “[The alarm] wasn't in my key, so I had to concentrate and sing through it.”
Since Berl and Martin both participated in the chorus section of the IMEA competition, their placement in all-district and possibly all-state depended on only one audition. Fortunately, their initial impressions of the audition weren't the same as those of the judges, and they both were selected to perform at all-state, in the honors chorus.
Berl and Martin, along with fellow honorees Alex Cahill, Daisy Hassani, Jennifer Roloff and Lucy Zhang, will participate in the IMEA 2007 All-State Conference in Peoria Wednesday through Saturday. They will attend conference sessions, rehearse with their fellow all-state musicians, and perform in the culminating day of concerts at the Peoria Civic Center.
Cahill, who plays the double bass, is now in his third year as an all-state musician, after being selected his sophomore and junior years. Hassani, a soprano II, and Zhang, who plays violin II, were also chosen last year to go to Peoria.
Considering the notoriously tricky audition process, it is impressive to have one returning all-state musician, let alone three.
“There is no guarantee,” said music teacher and IMEA past president Rick Murphy. “Some kids might make all-state their junior year and not even make district their senior year.”
The selected musicians have certainly earned their place among the state's best.
“I practice [for an hour every day] at least,” said Cahill. “But I usually practice for between one and a half and two and a half hours a day.”
Most of the other honorees practice to a slightly lesser extent, although some seem to rely more on their innate ability than on preparation.
Linda Song, who sings alto II, also would have been among the honorees if not for a scheduling conflict.
“Linda had a tough choice to make,” said Murphy. “She had to pick between a violin workshop and singing.”
Song was initially ranked first in her room after her audition and was to sing the national anthem at the IMEA District III Music Festival. As she would not be attending, however, the responsibility came down to Martin, who at the time was unprepared.
“When I showed up, they asked me if I wanted to sing the national anthem, because I was second in my room after Linda,” she said. “The other musicians had a month to prepare their pieces, and I had around five minutes. Fortunately, I knew the song.”
As the all-state music festival approaches, however, the orchestral musicians have yet another audition to face.
Berl, Hassani and Martin, as part of the chorus, will not have to audition again for their place at all-state, but Cahill, Roloff (who plays oboe), and Zhang will have to go through the audition process another time.
From there, they will be placed in either the honors or all-state group depending upon their performance in their audition, with the highest-placing musicians being in the honors section.
The orchestral auditions in Peoria this week will be the ultimate test of these students' abilities, since they will be judged against the best musicians in the state. The goal is to place in the more elite honors orchestra.
“We have to get in as much practice as possible before the audition, since we can't really practice once we get there,” said Zhang.
Despite the convoluted audition process, Murphy is overall supportive of the all-state program.
“It's not a perfect system,” he said, “but it gives musicians a chance to rehearse with good conductors and other serious musicians. It's a good experience.”
IMEA ALL-STATE MUSIC FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Wednesday, Jan. 24: Festival begins with preconference concert, “Cantus,” 8 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 25: Opening general session featuring keynote speaker Tim Lautzenheiser, “Bringing music to life,” 10 a.m.
- Friday, Jan. 26: Jazz Night concert featuring all-state jazz ensemble and three college bands, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 27: Concert featuring IMEA all-state orchestra, chorus, and band, 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 27: Final concert featuring IMEA honors orchestra, chorus, and band, 3:15 p.m.
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