Ten students represented Naperville North last weekend at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) conference, according to assistant band director Donald Stinson.

The conference, which ran from Jan. 28 until Jan. 31 in Peoria, Illinois, was an honor for NNHS musicians to participate in, Stinson said.

“ILMEA went fantastic for all the students involved and all the instructors involved as well,” Stinson said. “It’s a unique experience for them.”

This year, all three music sectors, band, orchestra and choir, were represented at the conference. Three principal players from NNHS performed, and two additional students auditioned successfully into the All-State Honors Jazz Combo.

“To make it at any level is a fantastic honor,” Stinson said. “And if you’re a principal player, it’s akin to saying that you’re one of the top high school musicians in the state. It’s a complete testament to the work those students have done.”

Sophomore Aditi Prakash, the youngest from NNHS at the conference, qualified for the All-State Orchestra with her talent on the violin.

“I was really nervous at first,” Prakash said. “Just listening to everyone was really humbling.”

ILMEA recognized the following musicians:

Carly Daugherty, All-State Honors Band, Clarinet
Shannon Keegan, All-State Chorus
Ian Henning, All-State Honors Chorus
Tolya Kuznetsov, All-State Honors Orchestra, Principal Cello
Maxwell Lowery, All-State Honors Orchestra, Principal Viola
Paul Beckman, All-State Honors Orchestra, Principal     Percussionist
Natalie Piehl, All-State Orchestra, Cello
Aditi Prakash, All-State Orchestra, Violin
Taylor Kroma, All-State Honors Jazz Combo, Bass
Alec McKeska, All-State Honors Jazz Combo, Guitar