We are very excited to announce the 2018 Sycamore High School Music Hall of Fame inductees include Jerry Taylor and Christine Monteiro!
In its sixth year, the Sycamore Music Boosters will host an official ceremony to induct the 2018 Music Hall of Fame honorees on Saturday, February 10, in the Sycamore High School Auditorium at 2:30 pm. This brief afternoon program will include a formal introduction of each inductee and may include musical performances and short tribute speeches. The Sycamore High School All-State musicians will also be recognized during this ceremony. The updated 2018 trophy case located across the hall from the auditorium will be unveiled and the program concludes with a light reception. The public is welcome and invited to attend this free ceremony.
Jerry Taylor, Ovation Award Recipient
Jerry Taylor, Ovation Award recipient, graduated from Sycamore High School in 1946. Throughout high school, Jerry would sing with every musical group possible. As a freshman, he was honored to be asked to sing with the Senior Quartet. He played saxophone in both orchestra and band, and played baritone sax with the marching band. Jerry sang tenor with every all-male group he could get into. He also sang in the high school mixed chorus.
Jerry’s musical upbringing started at an early age. His mother, who was a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse, taught him the basics of harmony and melody. And his father was a member of the country band Hoosier Hotshots in the 1920’s and 30’s. Jerry has sung for funerals and weddings and – when requested – still does to this present day.
In 1984, he travelled to Nashville and recorded a country music record entitled The Mellow Country Side of Jerry Taylor. In 2009, he was invited to sing ”The Lord’s Prayer” at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Tuscombia, Alabama. Later that year, Jerry produced a CD of Christmas Music along with 20 other musicians and singers. All the proceeds from this album went to the needy and disabled elderly people in the state of Alabama.
For many years, Jerry sang with the Meyer Quartet, and then with the Meyer Trio. He also sang with the Kishwaukee Barbershop Chorus for nearly 15 years. Jerry continues to sing with the Celebration Chorale, and he sings at Oak Crest Retirement Center every Saturday, with the John Skillman Band. In 2013, he was voted Volunteer of the Year at Oak Crest. Jerry now sings with Christian Senior Ministry at five locations throughout DeKalb County each week. This is Jerry’s 71st year singing with the church choir at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sycamore.
Christine (Wild) Monteiro, Legacy Award Recipient
Christine (Wild) Monteiro, Legacy Award recipient, graduated from Sycamore High School in 1987. While in high school, she participated in the Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Band, as well as Orchestra. She was a member of the Pit Orchestra for the high school Musicals. Additionally, she was involved in both Concert and Swing Choirs and sang with Madrigals. During high school, Christine participated in IMEA District Band for two years, IMEA District Chorus for one year, IMEA All-State Honors Choir for one year, and she won Division I awards all four years of high school for Vocal and Trumpet solos in the IMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest. Finally, Christine won the John Phillip Sousa Award.
Christine attended college at both Western Illinois University and Northern Illinois University. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Performance from NIU. She was a part of the NIU Concert Choir, Madrigals, and Opera Workshop. Christine played in the NIU Wind Ensemble and the WIU Concert Choir, Madrigals, and Octagon (Vocal Jazz Octet), and Wind Ensemble.
In 1998, Christine was awarded the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Artist Award Finalist where she received 4th place. In 2004, Christine was an overall finalist in the Lotte Lehman Foundation Cybersing International and the winner of the Audience Favorite Prize.
Today, Christine continues to perform with numerous vocal and music groups. She plays trumpet with the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, is the lead trumpet and female vocalist for Jazz in Progress, and is the featured vocalist and trumpet player in the DeKalb Municipal Band. Christine has been a featured vocalist with Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, the Stateline Music Foundation Festival Chorus, the Kishwaukee Area Concert Band, and the DeKalb Festival Chorus.
Christine currently serves as the Music Director of both the Celebration Chorale and the Waterman Community Choir. She has played trumpet in the pit orchestra for 24 Stage Coach Players musical productions, and she is their current Board Treasurer. Christine also serves as the Musical Director for Children’s Community Theatre. Christine’s voice and trumpet can be heard on over 20 CD recordings, including her three solo albums, Grace, Love in Any Language, and Christmas Treasures.
These inductees will also be honored and announced at the annual A Note to Remember event on February 10 at Blumen Gardens from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Tickets are $30.00 per person and are available at the Sycamore High School main office, Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists 3266 Sycamore Road office in DeKalb, Kar Fre Flowers, Shawn’s Deli, via E-mail at Note2Remember@gmail.com or by calling 815.751.8388.