Sycamore Music Boosters
News
News from around the square...
July 1st, 2008
Sycamore Musicians receive top Ensemble honors
Three Sycamore High School senior musicians ended
their high school careers on a very high note. Graduates Jessica Aldis, Bryan Carter and Quentin Scott were named
this year's recipients of the ensemble awards, given out by the SHS Department of Music.
Jessica Aldis received the National Choral Award; Bryan Carter received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the
John Philip Sousa Band Award; and Quentin Scott received the National Orchestra Award. Their peers and directors
selected them for these awards.
All the recipients have been heavily involved in the Sycamore music programs during their tenures. They have been
selected based on a variety of criteria including outstanding musicianship and performance, strong leadership,
excellent overall behavior, mentoring of younger musicians, being section leaders, demonstrating teamwork and providing
assistance to ensemble directors.
“All of the award winners are excellent leaders through
their words and examples,” said Scott Mertens, music department chairman. “They have helped our ensembles to excel
and their efforts are greatly appreciated by their teachers and peers.”
Jessica Aldis was in choir, symphonic band, marching band, pep band, madrigals, jazz choir and various musicals
throughout high school. She was an all-district musician and was selected for the All-State Honors Choir her junior
and senior years.
In 2007, she was selected to sing the national anthem at a state championship volleyball game. She consistently
earned Division I ratings on solo and ensemble contest pieces.
Aldis has also been involved in Stagecoach musicals for several years.
Bryan Carter was a drummer in the SHS symphonic band, marching band, pep band, orchestra and jazz band throughout
high school. He participated in District Jazz Ensembles throughout high school and received the International Association
of Jazz Educators Award his junior and senior years. He received an outstanding soloist award his junior year at
the New Trier Jazz Festival. He earned the distinction of being the top drum set player at All-State his junior
and senior years, playing in the All-State Honors Jazz Combo. He received Division I ratings on district solo and
ensemble pieces. He was also selected as a drummer for the 2008 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensembles and performed
at the Grammy Awards this year.
(photo and article courtesy Daily Chronicle)For Daily Chronicle Article, Click HERE
May 20, 2008
NAMM Foundation Names Sycamore Among the
"Best Communities for Music Education"
The NAMM Foundation announced that the Sycamore School
District and community are among America's "Best Communities for Music Education." Sycamore is among
the prestigious list of 110 school districts across the nation that exemplifies community commitment to include
music education as part of a quality education for all children. The NAMM Foundation and its music education advocacy
efforts work to ensure that all children have access to quality music education programs that encourage life-long
participation in music making.
This year's roster of musical schools represents 29 states with New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas,
and Virginia representing the most districts. Sycamore is among only three (3) Illinois school districts included
on this year's list. District 300 in Carpentersville and Joliet Schools are the other two Illinois School Districts
receiving this designation.
Hundreds of teachers, school and district administrators, school board members, parents and community leaders,
representing communities in all 50 states participated in the Web-based survey. The districts were measured across
a variety of program support, curricular and programmatic criteria. Furthermore, the results were measured proportionally,
so that communities of different sizes were compared equally. "We commend these school districts for their
commitment to assuring that music is part of a complete education for children," said Mary Luehrsen, executive
director, NAMM Foundation. "It takes the commitment of an entire community to assure that music is part of
the core curriculum. Children engaged in music will be the innovation leaders of tomorrow, and there is no better
way to build life-long participation in music than with a solid base of music education.&r! dquo;
Luehrsen also noted that throughout the survey's eight years several districts have reported that making the "Best
Communities" list has had a tangible effect on their ability to preserve music for their students. This year,
recipients cited increased enrollment in music programs and more support from parents and community members as
they realize the physical, mental and emotional value music education brings to students. Research reveals strong
correlations between quality music education in school and academic achievement. Students actively involved with
music programs develop skills needed by the 21st century workforce, including critical thinking, creative problem
solving, effective communication and team work.
Sycamore Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Riesen commented that "it takes a team effort to be included on
a prestigious list such as this. Congratulations to our entire music staff, our students, and the entire City of
Sycamore for their support of quality music education."
SHS ANNOUNCES ALL-CONFERENCE MUSICIANS
The Western Sun Conference recently announced the all-conference musicians who will participate in the conference
band festival on February 21. Rochelle High School will host the Western Sun Conference Band Festival. After a
full day of rehearsals, the festival bands will perform at 7:00 p.m. at the high school.
Seventeen musicians from Sycamore High School were selected for the all-conference bands. They include the following:
Freshman-Sophomore Band: Gail Anderson, Leif Anderson, Jacob Correa, Ian Kates, Kristian Kates, Joey Larkin, Jessica Pluhm,
Nathaniel Van Wienen.
Junior-Senior Band: Kayla Benjamin, Bryan Carter, Corie Choi, Katie Doonan, Dylan Larson, Holly Martin, Amy Olson,
Siobhan Sheil, and Sam Simpson.
For Daily Chronicle Article, Click HERE
SYCAMORE HIGH
SCHOOL MUSICIANS PERFORM AT ALL-STATE
Sycamore High School is pleased to announce that 12 instrumental
and vocal musicians from SHS were selected to attend the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) All-State
Conference in Peoria, Illinois. The conference took place January 30 - February 2 and included auditions, rehearsals
and performances by the All-State ensembles.
According to SHS Band Director Ken Goodman, the selection process for All-State is highly competitive and rigorous.
Music students first audition for the IMEA District music festivals in the fall. Then, the top students from each
district around the state are chosen to participate in the All-State festival. After arriving at the All-State
festival, the students audition again for placement in the state groups and they are placed in either the all-state
or honors ensembles. The rehearsals, over two days, culminate with performances of jazz bands on Friday night and
orchestras, choirs and concert bands on Saturday afternoon
For Daily Chronicle Article, Click HERE..........or
HERE
Students from Sycamore High School selected for the 2007
All-State include:
ALL-STATE HONORS JAZZ COMBO - Bryan Carter, drums
ALL-STATE BAND - Amy Olson, trumpet; Corie Choi, French horn
ALL-STATE HONORS ORCHESTRA - Francie Weberpal, cello
ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA - Chelsea Miller, violin; Anthony Salis, violin; Gina Spinoso, violin; Lindsay Maurer, cello; Hans
Anderson, cello; Greyson Scott, cello
ALL-STATE HONORS CHOIR- Jessica Aldis; Jamie Melin
The Grammy Foundation has announced that SHS student
Bryan Carter has been named as the drummer in the Grammy High School Jazz Combo. Bryan earned this coveted chair
by winning a national audition. Bryan is one of only three Illinois students to be selected for Grammy ensembles.
Click HERE for the Daily Chronicle article. Photo courtesy of : Kate Weber
