Arts

Twelve talented Latin students have earned a prestigious spot in the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) honor choirs this year, marking the highest number of students selected from Latin in recent years. 

Each year, ILMEA auditions attract some of the best young singers in the state, with on average only the top quartile of auditions selected for the district-level ensembles. This year, Latin had six students selected for the ILMEA Honors Chorus and an additional six selected for the 9-10 Honor Chorus which is open to ninth and tenth grade students.

Of those chosen for the district-level ensembles, an even further competitive group is selected for the All State Festival Chorus and All State Honors Festival Chorus, where some of the most exceptional young musicians across Illinois come together. The finalists for the All-State level will be announced later in 2024.

ILMEA’s District 1 is the largest and one of the most competitive districts in the state. Latin students have prepared audition materials since the beginning of the year, and have gone through a rigorous and competitive audition process. 

There are two festivals where students who are selected for the district-level ensembles work with a collegiate choral clinician and sing with more than 250 of their peers from over 60 surrounding schools. The first is the senior festival, which was held on Saturday, November 9, at Elmhurst University (pictured in this article). The second is the junior festival, which will take place on Saturday, November 23, at Unity Junior High School in Cicero. 

You can watch a video of the performance of “Measure Me Sky” from the senior festival here.

The following Latin students were selected for the ILMEA Honors Chorus:

• Junior Level Participants (Middle School)
• Sahana M.
• Neysa P.
• Nivi S.
• Sybella Z.

Senior Level Participants (Upper School)

• Finn D. 
• Stella Tate R.F.

The following Latin students were selected for the 9-10 Honor Chorus:

• Gianna B.
• Ellen C.
• Emma D.
• Sebastian K.
• Mateo L.
• Noa W.

A huge congratulations to these talented student musicians.
 

 

Each year, Latin's fourth grade students engage in the “I Am” Poetry Assembly. This special tradition is the culmination of weeks of hard work that is centered around the creation of thoughtful, introspective and reflective poems. 

As part of this project, students select adjectives, adverbs and different aspects of their identities and communities to describe themselves and write about their worries, fears, mottos and/or dreams. They also have the chance to perform/present their work, with each student selecting one of their three stanzas to read in front of their peers, faculty, staff and parents/guardians at a grade-level assembly in late October. 

During this year’s assembly, students showcased their original artwork and shared phrases such as: “I am a gymnast and a pet lover;” “I see the calming swing of trees as the wind swarms me and carries me away;” “I say the power of kindness can fix this world;” “I cry when people think they are not good or not smart enough because everybody is different and smart in their own way;” and “I am determined and talented.” 

This project and assembly give our Romans the opportunity to show their creativity and share a piece of themselves with their friends and families. 
 

Upper School student Edie P. performed with the Northeastern Illinois University orchestra during the 2nd Annual Collage Concert that was hosted by the university’s Department of Music and Dance on October 25. Edie, who played piano during the concert, earned this opportunity by winning the Chicago Chamber Music Festival’s 10th Annual Concerto Competition that was held during the summer. 

Congratulations, Edie. We are so proud of you and your success. 

Latin offers a variety of opportunities for students interested in developing their interest in playing music. Click here to view the Upper School’s curriculum.

 

Upper School students presented Failure: A Love Story, by Philip Dawkins, as the Fall Play. The show was well-received by cast and audience alike! 

A cast of 19 students and a crew of 8 students worked from the beginning of school to present 1928 Chicago, and the lives and deaths of the Fail sisters and their Fail Clock Works, est. 1900. The play took the audience through the fateful year when the sisters met and fell in love with Mortimer Mortimer, only to die before they could marry him. Part fable, part tragedy, audiences didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. If you didn’t get a chance to see it live, check out the recording, available to watch on Romannet on the Theatre Archive community group page.

This year, Latin's Advanced Acting Company has 7 incredibly dedicated and experienced actors and stage managers. Under the direction of Ms. Limoncelli, they are presenting Theresa Rebeck’s Mauritius, on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m. in Wrigley Theater. 
The play will feature the following cast and crew:

Finn Deeney - Dennis
Kelsey Riordan - Mary
Izzy Shafer - Jackie
Jeremiah Wheatley - Philip
Will Wichman - Sterling
Lucy Baer - Stage Managers
Sarina Weinberg - Stage Managers

The play focuses on two half-sisters, Jackie and Mary, who inherit a stamp collection from Mary’s grandfather which might be worth a fortune. The sisters become involved with three men, including the owner of a stamp store Phillip, Dennis, whose occupation is somewhat mysterious, and the menacing Sterling. The characters try to out-do each other in attempting to reap possible rewards from the stamp collection. The most suspenseful play about stamp collecting you'll ever see!