The Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) is the Illinois state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. A professional organization, IMEA has the mission to promote lifelong music learning and provide leadership for music education.
IMEA Goals:
1) to develop its members capacities to address complex educational challenges and achieve teaching excellence. 2) to influence decisions, policies and practices to support quality teaching, learning and access to music education. 3) to sponsor unique musical experiences for students that promote excellence and inspire a lifelong commitment to the Art of Music….composing, performing, and listening.
Students audition to perform in an IMEA ensemble (band, chorus, orchestra, jazz band or vocal jazz ensemble) within one of nine geographic districts. Based on that audition, Senior Level (high school) students may be invited to participate in the annual Illinois All-State Music Conference. Any orchestra or band instrument or voice part can be used in an audition. At the junior high level, students audition to perform in an IMEA band, orchestra, choir or jazz band in one of the nine geographic districts. To be eligible, student musicians must be active members, in good standing, in the appropriate music ensemble at their school.
IMEA divides Illinois into nine geographic districts.[1] In each district, students are selected to perform in various ensembles. The various high school music teachers in the districts are shuffled within the district to judge the students. A number of these participants are chosen from each district to perform in IMEA's state event, held in Peoria.
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The IMEA guest conductors select different music for each year's event. However, some ensembles reuse certain pieces as a matter of tradition.
These pieces are rotated every four years.