Welcome to MEF!
The Music Education Foundation (MEF) was founded in the mid-1980s to support and enhance all District 41 music programs including chorus, orchestra, band and school musicals. MEF has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of these outstanding programs and has assisted our distinguished staff in helping our children make music a lifelong love.
Meetings are held monthly at Hadley Junior High, and are open to the D-41 public. Interested residents are welcome to attend these meetings along with MEF Board members and the district band, orchestra and choral music teachers.
see "About Us" for more info
Orchestra 2007-2008
The 2007/08 Hadley Strings Orchestra
under the direction of Mrs. Georgia Alemis
Not pictured: Nicky Waldeck, Christian Kas, Bryce Dibadj
and Patrick Kelly
The Hadley School String Orchestra, under the direction of Ms. Georgia Alemis, has received the states HIGHEST award Honor Orchestra for the FIFTH year in a row, from IGSMA (Illinois Grade School Music Association).
IGSMA conducts an annual competition in which school orchestras receive a division rating based on comments from three judges. The judges place a score for each performance and in addition, the three judges can choose an outstanding performing ensemble and grant an orchestra the "honor" status. Up to three ensembles can be chosen from each of the state contest sites.
The Hadley School String Orchestra was the only orchestra in the state of Illinois chosen by the IGSMA to receive the Honor designation, based on their outstanding performance. Since 2003 the Hadley orchestra has been awarded the Honor status every year for their outstanding performances. Prior to 2003 the Hadley String Orchestra received first division ratings in the state every year since 1994 under the direction of Ms. Georgia Alemis.
One of the IGSMA judges, Mr. Ken Tonaki, stated in a letter to Ms. Alemis:
"On Saturday, April 26th, the Hadley Junior High School Orchestra performed at the Illinois Grade School Music Association Music Contest held in Villa Park. This event was the state finals where the best orchestras throughout Illinois were to be showcased. As a judge for this event, I was amazed by the Hadley Orchestra performance. Words could not describe the maturity of sound and behavior displayed by the students and their director. Their musicianship was comparable to an outstanding high school orchestra. In twenty years of listening to middle school orchestras, I would rank Hadley Junior High as one of the best music programs in the country. As a dedicated music educator, the emotional experience that I felt listening to your orchestra was the same feeling I get when I listen to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was an inspiring performance that I will never forget."
The three string orchestra selections performed were:
Carillon from LArlesienne Suite No. 1, by George Bizet and arranged by Robert McCashin, Suo Gan a traditional Welsh Folk Song, arranged by Carl Strommen and included beautiful solo's by 8th grade students Julianne Crawford on violin and Mary Caroline Benich on cello, and Orange Jam, by Jeffrey S. Bishop
This is a huge accomplishment for the students said Ms. Alemis. This accomplishment required hours and hours of practice, sectional rehearsals, and multiple performances. Congratulations to Ms. Georgia Alemis and the Hadley School String Orchestra for this extraordinary achievement.
Fantastic teamwork orchestra members!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Julianne Crawford (left) and Mary Caroline Benich for winning the 8th grade 2008 Concerto Competition!
Each performer will be playing a solo at the upcoming District #41 Spring Orchestra Concert that will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2008 in Biester Gym at Glenbard West High School at 7:30pm. The winners were selected by a judge on Solo and Ensemble Festival day on Saturday, January 30, 2008. Congratulations again girls for your outstanding performances!
Hadley Student Awards
Pictured are the recipients of the Hadley Outstanding 7th and 8th graders in Chorus, Orchestra and Band for 2008.
From left to right - Liam McGee, Outstanding 8th grade Band recipient. Mr. Don Crews, Band director. Emma Hohulin, Outstanding 7th grade Band recipient. Mrs. Georgia Alemis, Orchestra director. Mary Caroline Benich, Outstanding 8th grade Orchestra recipient. Emelie Sullivan, Outstanding 8th grade Chorus recipient. Julia Mistrata, Outstanding 7th grade Orchestra recipient. Mrs. Juli Mozockie, Chorus director.
Symphonic Band
Congratulations also to the Hadley Symphonic Band for their excellent performance at the Illinois Grade School Music Association District Contest held at Hubble Middle School on Saturday, March 15th. The Hadley Symphonic Band received a Division 1 rating from the three judges. Two judges determined the Symphonic Band should receive perfect scores for their performance and the third judge determined they should receive just one point shy of a perfect score. All of the judges were very impressed and complimentary of the band's performance. The capacity audience must have agreed with the judges because they gave the Symphonic Band a standing ovation at the completion of their performance. The Symphonic Band's Division 1 rating now qualifies them for the Illinois Grade School Music Association State Contest to be held on Saturday, April 26th.
Hadley Jazz is Back!
Beginning second semester, Hadley Jazz Band returned with a new band director.
Amber Stallings has been teaching music and band for the last three years. She comes to Hadley with a Bachelor's of Music degree from Eastern and is currently pursuing a Master's of Music from VanderCook College of Music.
Welcome Ms. Stallings!
If you have not aleady done so this year, please consider a contribution to MEF to support our talented musicians!
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the MEF Board should contact either Lynn Isaacson at 469-3775 or Carole Tobin at 469-1598.
Musical Mayhem
a HUGE success!
MUSICAL MAYHEM 2008
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!
Thanks to all participants and
volunteers for making this year's
Mayhem, again, the most successful
year to date!
Thanks also to all who donated items for the raffle
Go to the Lip Sync Page to see the winners as well as to find information on ordering photos!
Musical Mayhem was a huge success again this year with over 1,500 people attending the event. The Lip Sync Contest had 180 children performing from all five District 41 schools. Our thanks go out to our incredible event chairs, the 185 volunteers and the many generous donations from local vendors and District 41 families! Thanks to your incredible support, the evening and raffle were a tremendous success! All profits from this fun night of fundraising helped supplement the District 41 music programs and directly benefitted our children!
Contribute To the Music Education Foundation!
Click the link below to view and print the MEF contribution form.
File: mef_contribution.pdf |
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 |  | Welcome to the New School Year!!!
MEF Board Meeting:
Monday, November 10
Hadley - 7:00 pm
Musicians Wanted!
It`s not too late to join the Orchestra! Follow the link at left to locate the Orchestra Registration Letter - but get your request in soon!
Visit the "CALENDAR" page for additional information on upcoming events
(for Band and Orchestra rehearsals check "Rehearsal Schedule" page)
Visit our new
CLASSIFIEDS page.
Anyone in D41 may
buy or sell an
instrument or equipment on this page! Is your musician ready to upgrade?
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