Music Highlights

2022 is off to a busy start for the multitude of music programs at Central High School. Central is home to two concert bands, two orchestras, three jazz bands, two smaller jazz combos, a choir, and a marching band. Many of these award-winning groups compete in various competitions throughout the school year, with the marching band competing in the fall and the jazz and concert bands entering competitions at the state and national levels in the spring.

Individually, Central’s band, choir, and orchestra students have the annual opportunity to audition for the ILMEA (Illinois Music Educator Association) district band in the fall. If admitted, students may also be selected for various all-state groups. Nine Central students were selected for all-state this year, and will be participating in the all-state festival in Peoria at the end of January. The four day festival includes group rehearsals, performances, and clinics for students and band directors from across the state to participate in. Though all-state was unable to take place in-person last year, the festival plans to return to (almost) normal this year with new restrictions in place such as mandatory mask wearing, social distancing when possible, and bell covers for wind instruments.

Junior Sarah Mizzen reflected on the honor of being named an all-state musician, describing that “students who are selected for this honor have been recognized for the large amount of effort and passion they put into playing their instruments and making music.” She felt that being chosen for all-state has been a “confidence booster for sure,” and “being invited to such a large festival to play with others who are as enthusiastic about music as me is super exciting. All and all, it puts a big smile on my face.”

Central’s top concert band, Wind Symphony, will also be entering a state level competition as a group. After two years online, the Illinois SuperState concert band festival will be returning in person this year, with Central submitting their audition recording as usual. Wind Symphony has qualified for SuperState over 20 times since the current band directors, John and Jennifer Currey, took over the school’s music program.

Senior Adele Miller, who has been performing with the Wind Symphony since she was a freshman, is excited about the competition returning in person. “SuperState is an opportunity to have the shared experience of listening to great music with other people who appreciate it,” she said. “Also, it’s fun to see the caliber of music people our own age can achieve.” Miller has really enjoyed playing with the school’s top group throughout high school, stating that it has “allowed [her] to see how [the] bands’ sound and strengths have changed throughout the years”.

Finally, Central’s three jazz bands and two combos have perhaps the most busy schedule of the semester. The groups will be hosting multiple performances throughout the spring, on top of participating in several festivals as well. Central’s top Jazz Ensemble will be submitting recordings for the national Essentially Ellington festival in New York. The group has the exciting opportunity to be accepted back-to-back as they participated in the competition virtually last year. The jazz groups will also have their usual spring performances such as Central’s annual Swing Dance (which will return in person on February 25th), and festivals at Purdue, Eastern Illinois University, and Evanston.

The Chronicle staff wishes Central’s music program good luck competing in the 2022 school year!