Hinsdale Central’s Music Department will be represented at the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) District Choir by 21 singers later this month. All of these vocalists went through a tough audition process that tested their musical ability on selections taken from four different pieces. Each was asked to sight sing specific sections from two of the four choral arrangements.

For some of the singers, including Jayne Jaeger, senior, the auditions were familiar. Jaeger is one of the 21 singers advancing to the District level. Last year, not only did she reach the District level, but she was also a member of the Honors Choir within the All-State Choir, the highest distinction for vocalists given by the IMEA.

“You don’t know until you get in the room what selection of which song you have to deliver. Last year, the sight singing was extremely difficult – It started in a major key and ended in minor,” Jaeger said. A portion of those who qualified for the District Level will be notified of callbacks for the All-State Choir. The ensuing audition process is significantly more difficult than the previous one.

“This year is a really large group, probably because all of the madrigal singers were required to audition so a lot of people who wouldn’t have considered it before auditioned this year,” Jaeger said. Musicians from both the orchestra program and the band program will be joining their fellow vocalists at the district level, and most likely, at the state level as well.