Illinois Music Educators Association
The Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) is the Illinois state-level affiliate of NAfME: The National Association for Music Education. A professional organization, ILMEA has the mission to promote lifelong music learning and provide leadership for music education.
ILMEA Goals:
1) to develop its members capacities to address complex educational challenges and achieve teaching excellence. 2) to influence decisions, policies and practices to support quality teaching, learning and access to music education. 3) to sponsor unique musical experiences for students that promote excellence and inspire a lifelong commitment to the Art of Music….composing, performing, and listening.
Students audition to perform in an ILMEA ensemble (band, chorus, orchestra, jazz band or vocal jazz ensemble) within one of nine geographic districts. Based on that audition, Senior Level (high school) students may be invited to participate in the annual Illinois All-State Music Conference. Any orchestra or band instrument or voice part can be used in an audition. At the junior high level, students audition to perform in an ILMEA band, orchestra, choir or jazz band in one of the nine geographic districts. To be eligible, student musicians must be active members, in good standing, in the appropriate music ensemble at their school.
ILMEA divides Illinois into nine geographic districts.[1] In each district, students are selected to perform in various ensembles. The various high school music teachers in the districts are shuffled within the district to judge the students. A number of these participants are chosen from each district to perform in ILMEA's state event, held in Peoria.
Repertoire
The ILMEA guest conductors select different music for each year's event. However, some ensembles reuse certain pieces as a matter of tradition.
Orchestra
These pieces are rotated every four years.
- Brahms's Academic Festival Overture (2006–07)
- Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (2007–08)
- Finale from Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 (2008–09)
- Glinka's Russlan and Ludmilla (2009–10)