The Sycamore High School Music Department is proud to announce the 2016 Concerto Competition Winners: Mary Flaherty, Jessica Luo, Kailey Mulligan, and Emma Olson. Each year, high schoolseniors are encouraged to apply vi a audition for the competition, and these talented performers were selected from numerous senior applicants this year. Each winner had the pleasure of performing their solo piece accompanied by their peers with the SHS Symphony Orchestra.
Emma Olson, on Oboe, performed Johann Hummel’s Theme & Variations. She was selected to participate at the ILMEA District Festival all four years in high school and was a member of the All-State Band (the highest level at the ILMEA Conference) her Junior, and Senior year, and in the ILMEA Honors Band sat 3rd chair in 2015 and 4th chair in 2016 respectively. She sat Principal chair in the ILMEA Orchestra for her Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. She was awarded Best of Day for her Solo & Ensemble performance in 2015. She was also a member of the NIU CSA Sinfonia, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Earl Clemens Wind Quintet. This fall, Emma will be studying at the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana, majoring in Music.
Kailey Mulligan, on Viola, performed William Walton’s Concerto for Viola. Kailey was selected to participate all four years of high school at the annual ILMEA District Festival and was the Principal Viola Chair her Junior and Senior years. She advanced to the ILMEA All-State Festival performing in the All-State Orchestra Sophomore year and in the All-State Honors Orchestra her Junior and Senior years. Other musical activities Kailey participated in include playing in the Pit Orchestra for various musicals, attending summer music camps, and performing with the NIU CSA Sinfonia, Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Midwest Young Artists Conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles. She is also the 2016 recipient of the Bette J. Lundbeck Memorial Music Scholarship. Kailey will be attending Wheaton College as an Elementary Education major.
Vocalist Mary Flaherty performed Handel’s Va Godendo from Xerxes and Puccini’s O mio babbino caro from the opera Gianni Schicchi. Mary participated in Madrigals and Jazz Choir during high school, was an ILMEA District Choir participant her Sophomore, Junior and Senior years and attended ILMEA All-State in the Honors Choir her Senior year. She was also selected for the Northern Illinois Big 12 Choir Festival all four years in school. Mary received the Best of Day award for her vocal solo at this year’s Solo & Ensemble competition. In the summer of 2014, she placed First in her division at the Grandquist Music Festival. Mary also received the National School Choral Award in 2016 and was selected as a soloist in the District 8 concerts. Mary will be attending Luther College majoring in Music.
Jessica Luo, on Violin, performed Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saens. Jessica, Concertmaster of the SHS Symphonic Orchestra, participated in the ILMEA District Festivals since 6th grade and earned her way to the ILMEA All-State Conference her Sophomore, Junior and Senior years of high school. She has served as Concertmaster at the most recent District Festivals and has earned “Outstanding” or Division I ratings in annual Solo & Ensemble and local competitions since she was 7 or 8 years old. She not only is a talented violinist, but also is an accomplished pianist, vocalist, and arranger of music. In her Senior year, Jessica played in four orchestras, sang in two choirs, and played piano in the SHS Jazz Ensemble. She also accompanied several of Sycamore’s very talented musicians for Solo & Ensemble and arranged several songs for the SHS Choir. Jessica will be attending the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana, majoring in Math and Computer Science, and may double major or minor in Music Technology.
Congratulations to the 2016 Sycamore High School Orchestra Concerto Competition Winners and for sharing your talent and impressive performances with fellow students and the community!