Around 180 choral students from across District 214 participated in this year’s Voices of 214 Festival, sponsored by Arts Unlimited. They took part in an all-day clinic at Elk Grove High School and worked with guest conductor Stephanie Skizas, the former choir director from Glenbard South High School.
It was a full circle moment for Elk Grove High School choir director Keshena Cisneros-Luckett. Skizas was her high school teacher and her inspiration for pursuing a career as a music educator.
“I joined choir in high school and she inspired me to be a high school choir teacher. I just thought it would be an amazing opportunity if she could be the guest clinician for the D214 event,” said Cisneros-Luckett. “I’m just inspired and overwhelmed by the musicality that the students showed in their performance. I loved watching Mrs. Skizas. You could see all of the students were so inspired by what she taught them and by her conducting them.
“This is just my blood. From the moment I walked out that door when I retired, I have always loved my job because you get a chance to connect other people with music–an art that speaks beyond words.” said Skizas. “Being able to be a part of today, it gets that right back in my soul again. I was so excited about coming here. As soon as I heard the first chords coming out of them I couldn’t even breathe.”
The group consisted of mostly freshmen in first level choirs, but students of all ages participated. The goal of the event was to get students excited about the music programs at D214.