Elementary school students Jackson Plasman (5th grade) and Olivia Byrd (6th grade) auditioned for the 2023 American Choral Directors' Association (ACDA) National Honors Choirs and were recently accepted! Over 4000 students prepared rigorous auditions for only 1200 spots in four choirs.

Jackson and Olivia both enjoy singing. Music plays a big role in their day. They are members of Timothy’s' auditioned elementary and middle school choir, Jr. Chamber Ensemble. Jackson sings alto in Jr. Chamber Ensemble and is also in band. Olivia sings soprano 1 in Jr. Chamber Ensemble, is in the middle school drama production of Aladdin Jr., sang with the Anima Children's Choir, and is in 6th grade Orchestra. Both are dedicated young musicians and are excited to have been accepted. 

Jackson and Olivia both enjoy singing. Music plays a big role in their day. They are members of Timothy’s' auditioned elementary and middle school choir, Jr. Chamber Ensemble. Jackson sings alto in Jr. Chamber Ensemble and is also in band. Olivia sings soprano 1 in Jr. Chamber Ensemble, is in the middle school drama MS production of Aladdin Jr., sang with the Anima Children's Choir, and is in 6th grade Orchestra. Both are dedicated young musicians and are excited to have been accepted. 

To prepare for this audition, they met with Ms DeJager outside of the school day learning difficult excerpts from “Domine Deus” from Mass in G by J.S. Bach and Imaginary Creatures, movement 4 “Imaginary Friend,” by contemporary composer Dr. Andrea Ramsey. They also spent time working on technique, tone production, phrasing, and expression. Their hard work paid off! 

In February, Jackson and Olivia will head to Cincinnati, Ohio, with their parents and spend three days at the national conference working with internationally renowned directors. Jackson will sing with the ACDA National Children's Choir (grades 4-6) conducted by Mr. Fernando Malvar-Ruiz. Mr. Malvar-Ruiz was the artistic director for the American Boychoir, based in Princeton, NJ, and has prepared choirs to sing in many events and with symphony orchestras around the world. Olivia will sing with the ACDA National Middle School Honor Choir (grades 6-9) conducted by Dr. Andrea Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey is now a full time composer, but prior to that held positions at The Ohio State University and University of Colorado. She is also a sought after clinician.

ACDA is the premier professional organization for choral directors of children's choirs through college age singers. It provides outstanding professional development for choral directors at all levels and both Ms. DeJager (PreK-4 General Music, 5-7 Choral Music) and Mrs. Lanenga (8-12 Choir Director & 5-12 Performing Arts Coordinator) are active members. Ms. DeJager served on the ACDA Midwest Regional Conference planning committee in 2006 and 2008 as the High School Honor Choir and Children's Honor Choir coordinator, respectively, and most recently served on the Illinois-ACDA executive board from 2015-2018 as the children's choir repertoire and resources chair.

Jackson and Olivia are not the only Timothy students who have been selected into these prestigious choirs in recent years. Timothy  has had several students selected to both ACDA Regional and National choirs since 2016. Jackson and Olivia join these outstanding former and current students who have been part of these prestigious choirs:

2016 - Mia Battista, Eloise Nelson, Kenna Tolman, Michal Tolman & Emma Vega (ACDA Jr. High Midwest Regional Choir, Chicago, IL)

2017 - Kenna and Michal Tolman (ACDA Jr. High National Choir, Minneapolis, MN)

2019 - Dana McAdam (ACDA High School National Choir, Kansas City, MO)

2021- Jacob Busse (ACDA Jr. High Men's Midwest Regional Choir, Chicago, IL)

Congratulations to 2023 National Honor Choir members: Jackson Plasman and Olivia Byrd! All Glory to God!