Nearly 100 U-46 high school students were recognized by the School District U-46 Board of Education at its June 9 meeting. The students were honored with an “Accent on Achievement” recognition for their outstanding achievements in the fine arts, on the same evening the district was honored by the Board for being named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education.”

This is the seventh straight year U-46 has earned the “Best Communities” recognition from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, and it was among fewer than 30 school districts in Illinois to receive the honor this past school year. The recognition is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students. U-46 Fine Arts Coordinator Jaimie Giraldo and South Elgin High School Choral Educator Amanda Brex-Castillo accepted the Accent on Achievement certificate from the Board on behalf of the music department. 

In addition, Giraldo also received an Accent on Achievement for being named the “Arts Educator of the Year” by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, which cited her passion for ensuring all young people have access to arts education.

Of the 98 Accent on Achievement certificates issued by the Board, 12 went to students who received a special honor for being selected as All-State Musicians through the Illinois Music Education Association’s (ILMEA) competitive audition process. This is the highest musical achievement for high schoolers in Illinois. Selected students performed at the ILMEA’s annual music education conference in Peoria earlier this year. 

Another 45 students were part of South Elgin High School’s honors treble chorus, directed by Brex-Castillo. After submitting an application and audition videos, the chorus was chosen from among hundreds of applicants as a featured school ensemble to perform at the ILMEA’s all-state music festival.

Ellie Jahnke, a May graduate from South Elgin High School, received two Accent on Achievement certificates — for being a member of the All-State Chorus and also for performing with the SEHS honors treble chorus. She said taking a choral class as an elective, and being a part of the school’s choral groups, provided her with a sense of community.

“It has given me a lot of confidence outside of the classroom,” she said. “It has been just a great way for me to grow as a person and as a musician. I’ve met so many amazing people through it, and it’s helped me emotionally and socially.” 

Two of the students were also honored for their performance in the pit orchestra for the all-state production of “The Prom” at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival. The students submitted audition recordings and were also selected from hundreds of submissions from around the state.

Finally, 41 students either acted in or were a part of the technical crew for South Elgin High School’s production of “Anne of Green Gables” that was chosen as a featured school production at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival. Schools apply to the festival to perform, and adjudicators attend each applying production to determine which ones will be selected to perform.

Giraldo said she was pleased that the Board was able to recognize so many students excelling in the arts, all on the same evening.  

“I have a very happy heart,” Giraldo said. “It just makes me so happy to see our fine arts students getting recognized. Sometimes our arts students don’t feel that celebration as much as maybe, say, someone competing in sports, and here in U-46, I am proud that we see their efforts and successes and recognize them for their achievements. I’m so proud of them and of our teachers, and so happy to be a part of such a great community here.”  

The names of the students who were honored on June 9 follow. Note that their year in school denotes their grade during the 2024-25 school year. 

Illinois Music Education Association

All-State Music Festival: Individual

Illinois Music Education Association

All-State Music Festival: 

Featured School Ensemble

Illinois High School Theatre Festival:

All-State Production (Individual) 

Illinois High School Theatre Festival: 

Featured School Production