Quincy High School sends 26 students to All-State music event in Peoria

PEORIA, Ill. — Twenty-six Quincy High School students recently participated as All-State musicians for 2024 at the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) All-State Convention in Peoria on Jan. 24-27.

More than 10,000 students from elementary, junior high and high schools around Illinois participated during the fall of 2023 in a virtual audition process. More than 7,000 students were selected to participate in district festivals celebrating student musicians in bands, orchestras, choruses and jazz ensembles. 

Students in grades 9-12 who participated in the Illinois Music Education Association district festivals are also eligible to be selected into ILMEA’s All-State student programs. This year, 1,500 students were selected to participate in the ILMEA All-State event in Peoria. In addition to the performing ensembles, this group also includes students who applied for and were accepted into the Future Music Educators Seminar for those students interested in pursuing careers as professional music educators, and students who entered the ILMEA Composition Contest and were selected to participate in the composition track. 

Selected from Quincy High School were:

Donovan Briscoe, All-State Orchestra Strings (string bass), is a sophomore and a son of Gabe Briscoe and Quinn Baker.  He is a member of the QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Jazz Band and International Thespian Society. 

Richard Coleman, All-State Orchestra Strings (violin), is a junior and a son of Chris and Jen Coleman. He is a member of the QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Concert Choir, Electric Blue Show Choir, QHS Madrigal Singers, QHS Wired and International Thespian Society.  Coleman also is a member of the QHS tennis team, Illinois Music Honors Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Arrow Crist, Honors Chorus (Bass II), is a freshman and a son of Mick and Cindy Crist. He is a member of QHS Freshmen Chorale and QHS Jazz Lab Band.

Hunter Daggett, Future Music Educators Seminar, is a senior and a son of Amanda Daggett. He is a member of the QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Concert Band and QHS Jazz Band. This is Daggett’s second year as an All-State musician. 

Alyssa Daniel, Honors Chorus (Tenor I), is a senior and a daughter of John and Christina Daniel. She is a member of the QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Concert Choir and the International Thespian Society. Alyssa also is a member of the Illinois Music Honors Society and the National Beta Club.

Joey Engelmeyer, Honors Chorus (Bass I), is a senior and a son of Jenny Engelmeyer and John Engelmeyer.  He is a member of the QHS Concert Band, QHS Concert Choir, QHS Madrigal Singers, Electric Blue Show Choir and QHS Blue Devil Big Band. Engelmeyer is the president of the National Honor Society, a member of the Beta Club and founder of the Illinois Music Honors Society. This is Engelmeyer’s second year as an All-State Musician.

Gabby Hanchett, Honors Chorus (Soprano II), is a junior and the daughter of Jon and Sarah Hanchett. She is a member of the QHS Concert Choir, Electric Blue Show Choir, QHS Madrigal Singers and QHS Theater Council.  Hanchett also is a member of the National Honor Society and Illinois Music Honors Society.

Riley Holthaus, Honors Chorus (Alto II), is a senior and a daughter of Nathan and Mindy Holthaus. She is a member of the QHS Concert Choir, QHS Madrigal, Electric Blue Show Choir and QHS Theater. Holthaus also is a member of the National Honor Society and Illinois Music Honor Society.

Devon Miller, All-State Orchestra (viola), is a senior and a daughter of Sean and Leah Miller.  She is a member of QHS Concert Orchestra and QHS Wired. Miller also is a member of the Illinois Music Honor Society. This is Miller’s second year as an All-State musician. 

Gerald Miller, All-State Chorus (Bass I), is a senior and a son of Tom and Mary Miller. He is a member of the QHS Concert Choir and Electric Blue Show Choir.  Gerald also is a member of the QHS track and field team. 

Sierra Miller, Honors Band (French horn), is a senior and a daughter of Toby and Amanda Miller.  She is a member of the QHS Concert Band and QHS Concert Orchestra. Miller also is a member of the National Honor Society, Illinois Music Honor Society, Society for Academic Achievement and FFA. This is Miller’s second year as an All-State musician.

Lucas Piazza, All-State Band (percussion), is a Senior and the son of Raquel Sparrow and Mike Piazza.  He is a member of the QHS Concert Band, QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Concert Choir, Electric Blue Show Choir, QHS Madrigal Singers and QHS Theater productions.  Lucas also is a member of the Illinois Music Honor Society. 

Natalie Predmore, All-State Orchestra (flute), is a freshman and a daughter of John and Cheryl Predmore. She is a member of the QHS Symphonic Band, QHS Freshmen Chorale, Company Blue Show Choir and is involved in QHS theater productions.

Kailee Rea, Honors Chorus (Alto I), is a senior and a daughter of Robin Rea. She is a member of the QHS Concert Choir and Electric Blue Show Choir. Kailee also is a member of the National Honor Society, the Illinois Music Honor Society and the Beta Club.

Ethan Aaron Rodgers, All-State Orchestra (cello), is a senior and a son of Chad and Kathleen Rodgers. He is a member of the QHS Concert Orchestra and is involved with the QHS theater. Rodgers is a member of the National Honors Society.  This is his second year as an All-State musician.  

Noah Schaefer, All-State band (clarinet), is a sophomore and a son of Chris and Beth Schaefer. He is a member of the QHS Concert Band, QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Concert Chorale, QHS Jazz Band and Electric Blue Show Choir.

Caroline Seaman, All-State Orchestra (viola), is a freshman and a daughter of Nathan and Delene Seaman. She is a member of the QHS Symphonic Orchestra and QHS Freshmen Chorale.  She also a member of the QHS girls soccer team. 

Kiley Shoot, Honors Chorus (Alto I), is a senior and a daughter of Todd and Jill Shoot. She is a member of the QHS Concert Choir and Electric Blue Show Choir. Shoot also is a member of the Q-City Pommers, National Honor Society, Illinois Music Honor Society and the Beta Club. This is Shoot’s second year as an All-State musician.

Ryan Siebert, All-State Band (trombone), is a freshman and a son of Jen and Jeff Siebert. He is a member of the QHS Symphonic Band and QHS Jazz Lab Band.

Elaina Smith, All-State Band (bassoon), is a senior and the daughter of Clare Smith and the late Matt Smith. She is a member of the QHS Concert Band and QHS Concert Orchestra.  Smith also is a member of the QHS Beta Club, National Honor Society and QHS Scholastic Bowl. This is Smith’s third year as an All-State musician. 

Jude Steiner-Haubrich, All-State Orchestra (trumpet), is a freshman and a son of Gregory and Victoria Haubrich. He is a member of the QHS Symphonic Band and QHS Jazz Lab Band.  He also is a member of the cross country and track teams and the Fellowship of the Christian Athletes.

Preston Trinh, Honors Orchestra (violin), is a senior and the son of Linh Nguyen and Anthony Trinh.  He is a member of the QHS Concert Orchestra.  He also is a member of the QHS tennis team, Illinois Music Honor Society, National Honor Society and the QHS Beta Club. This is Trinh’s third year as an All-State musician. 

Lily Twaddle, Honors Chorus (Alto II), is a senior and the daughter of Justin and Deanna Williams. She is a member of the QHS Concert Choir, Electric Blue Show Choir, and QHS Madrigal and has been involved in many QHS theater productions. Twaddle also is a member of the National Honor Society, IHSA Music Vocal Solo Award-Gold, IHSA Music Vocal Ensemble award-Gold, Theater Guild president for 2022-23 and 2023-24, and Choir Council vice president for 2023/24. This is Twaddle’s first year as an All-State musician.

Robert Wealer, All-State Jazz Band (percussion), is a junior and the son of Matt Wealer and Camilla Ferrel. He is a member of the QHS Concert Band, QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Show Band and QHS Blue Devil Big Band. This is Wealer’s second year as an All-State musician.

Olivia Williams, All-State Chorus (Soprano I), is a senior and a daughter of Shawn and Laura Williams.  She is a member of the QHS Concert Band, QHS Concert Orchestra, QHS Concert Choir, Electric Blue Show Choir and QHS Madrigal. Williams also is a member of the Beta Club and Illinois Music Honor Society and has been in several QHS theater productions.

Matthew Zehnle, Honors Chorus (Tenor II), is a senior and a son of David and Angela Zehnle.  He is a member of the QHS Concert Choir, Electric Blue Show Choir and QHS theater productions.

The Jazz Night Concert on Friday, Jan. 26 featured a night of music performed by the student vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles. The All-State Elementary Chorus Concert, the All-State Concert and the Honors Concerts were presented on Saturday, Jan. 27.

The All-State Student Programs run concurrently with the Illinois Music Education Conference, the premier professional development opportunity for music educators in Illinois. This event brings more than 12,000 students, educators, parents and music education industry vendors to the Peoria Civic Center to celebrate and promote music education in Illinois.