With 22 students on the all-state team, it’s not surprising that Lyons Township High School is a powerhouse this year, just as it has been over the last decade and more.
As a whole, the Lyons youngsters can probably outplay or outsing those at many other schools in the state. The 22 have been named All-State Musicians and will be among those performing at the 50th annual Illinois Music Educators Association conference from Thursday through Saturday in Peoria.
Their selection continues a tradition at the La Grange high school, which for 12 consecutive years has had more singers, orchestra and band players on the all-state team than any other school in the Chicago area.
Lyons has also ranked among the top three schools statewide during that span, and tied with Sterling High School for the highest number statewide this year.
The 22 students from Lyons are made up of 16 chorus members, five in the orchestra and one in the band.
The driving force behind the school’s vocal music program is Robert Boyd, a teacher for 26 years and described by his students as “inspiring,” and being able to “convey his energy through us.”
But Boyd said any accolades must be shared with fellow teachers Connie Lyda and Michael Wolniakowski. Together, they oversee 350 students in nine vocal groups, including boys’ and girls’ choruses, mixed chorus, concert choir, treble choir, varsity choir, jazz chorus and madrigal choir.
“There is a rich tradition of excellence here in vocal music,” Boyd said. “I am blessed with working with wonderful people, and I just keep the ball rolling.”
“You cannot overlook the parents,” said Edward Bell, the orchestra director. “The support our kids get from home is paramount. Lesson after lesson and performance after performance, parents are great contributors to their students’ success.”
Thousands of musicians in 608 Illinois high schools auditioned last fall for All-State Musician recognition, and judges eventually selected 1,249 students from 314 high schools.
They will gather in Peoria to perform in 10 all-state music ensembles of choruses, bands and orchestra in various locations, attracting crowds of more than 8,000–similar to the numbers who pack that city’s Carver Arena each March for the state high school basketball championship.
The Lyons Township All-State Musicians are:
Choir: David Adkison, John Amrein, Emily Cremieux, Aaron Fox, Jessica Jones, Renee Koher, Claudia Kubik-Kessel, Gail Lesher, Donald McMurray, Sabrina Pence, Michael Rakow, Allison Schilsky, John Seguin, Shannon Spellman, Anthony Tatina and Michael Wood.
Orchestra: Meredith Blecha, Abigail Cooley, Lucy Kalnes, Stephane Majewski and Tomas Szklarski.
Band: Jeffrey Wavra.
Some of the Lyons all-staters began to develop a tradition of musical excellence at early ages.
Pence sang the lead of Mother Nature in “Winter Wouldn’t Wait” as a 5th grader at Field Park Elementary School in Western Springs. Cremieux was Judas in “Godspell” in the 8th grade at La Grange Highlands Junior High in La Grange. Seguin was Linus in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” as a 7th grader at Park Junior High in La Grange Park.
Wood started singing in Stockton, Calif., where his family lived until he was 10. On auto vacation trips to Oregon and Washington, he would join his father Patrick, his mother Janet and brother David in singing along with tapes of the Beatles and Rolling Stones.
Many of the singers said the most satisfying element in being in the 62-member Lyons varsity chorus is the unity and emotional bonding in working to achieve the common goal of musical excellence.
“People from different backgrounds together can produce music people enjoy,” Cremieux said.
The Lyons Township chorus presents three concerts a year plus performances for the Christmas holidays and performs in local churches and other settings.
