Mundelein High School senior, Anna Desfor, won the soloist competition on the xylophone at the Elk Grove Percussion Festival held March 4 at Elk Grove High School. Villa Borghese, an arrangement of the opening movement of Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi was performed by a large ensemble of 18 players. Desfor was featured as the xylophone soloist on The Ragtime Robin, a George Hamilton Green piece, arranged for percussion quintet by Bob Becker. The musicians were evaluated by clinicians Doug Bratt, associate professor of music at Moraine Valley Community College and by Adam Hopper, co-director of bands at Southern Middle School in Somerset, Kentucky.

“Each clinician offered advice for the ensembles to improve their playing, both in a group and individually,” said Andy Sturgeon, co-director of the instrumental music program at MHS along with Jerald Shelato.