Nearly two dozen MHS musicians were named to the Illinois Music Education Association District 7 Honors Ensembles in October. These students, representing band, choir, orchestra and jazz band, are considered in the top 5 percent of performers.

The honors were given to the following students:

Chorus: Lauren Gibbons, soprano I; Leandro Ocampo, bass II; Alexandro Torralba Rivera, tenor I; and Sam Zwiefelhofer, tenor II.

Orchestra: Dylan Buisson, bass trombone; and Mariana Van Eycke, trombone.

Band: Jamie Atkinson, euphonium; Lisa Choi, french horn; Andy Gallup, tuba; Braeden Kratz, euphonium; Chloe Langford, trombone; Martin Palacios, Eb/Bb clarinet; and Paola Vargas, trumpet.

Jazz Combo: Chloe Langford, trombone; and Sam Penteado, drum set.

Jazz Band I: Aidan Ross, bari sax.

Jazz Band II: Everestt Correa, bass; Jacob Dubinski, trombone; Mason Jerome, guitar; Anthony Rankov, guitar; Aldre Delos Santos, trumpet; Mariana Van Eycke, trombone.

Jazz Band III: Emily Grandt, drum set; and Shawn Mastandrea, piano.

Jazz Band IV: Braeden Kratz, trombone.

These individual honors are the result of students preparing upwards of five musical excerpts that are performed for judges across the state. Achieving a place in district ensembles is an accomplishment on par with an athletic team advancing to state sectionals - making it a rare honor.

For example, Sam Penteado and Chloe Langford made it into the Jazz Combo, which means that they are the top Drum Set and Trombone players in the entire district VII area which encompasses Lake, Cook, and McHenry Counties.

Congratulations also to MHS Band Directors Andy Sturgeon and Jerry Shelato and to Choir Director Cory Thompson for their work in preparing these students.

Students who have earned entrance into ILMEA District VII Honors Ensembles, will perform in an all-district honors group in November. Choir, Band, and Orchestra honors students perform at Glenbrook South High School on November 4. Jazz Band students perform at Lake Zurich High School on November 18.