The ILMEA Large Group Festival Series!

Join us for the 2027 ILMEA Large Group Festival series! We invite all participating middle and high school band, orchestra, instrumental jazz and chorus programs to join us in this unique event designed to bring our musical community together for world-class performance venues, invaluable feedback from renowned adjudicators, inspiring performances, and the opportunity to support fellow educators and students from around the state!

The Large Group Festival is a non-competitive adjudicated event featuring performance opportunities in high-quality venues and also feedback (audio and written) as well as clinic experiences with well-respected/well-known music educators and practitioners. This festival is open to ensembles at any level - we strive to make this a positive experience for any ensemble that wishes to participate, so beginning ensembles all the way through to selective, experienced ensembles can all have a top-quality experience at our Large Group Festivals.

Pricing

One (1) Ensemble/School = $350.00, each additional ensemble from that school is $25.00 off!

ILMEA will send an electronic invoice/payment link to the email address listed on the form; payment will be due six weeks prior to the event or the ensembles may forfit their performance slot.

Registration

*Registration will open on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 10:00am CST*

Ready to register? Click the date you’d like to register for to submit your information! You’ll input one ensemble registration per submission; if you have multiple ensembles you’d like to take, please fill out the form again.

If the location is full, please fill out the waitlist request on that location’s registration form.

Large Group Festival FAQ

Harper College

Palatine, Illinois

  • Tuesday, March 2, 2027 TENTATIVE - Orchestra

St. Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

  • Thursday, March 4, 2027 - Instrumental Jazz

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

  • Wednesday, March 10 - Band

  • Thursday, March 11 - Orchestra, Choir

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

  • Saturday, March 13 - Band

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, Illinois

  • Tuesday, March 16 - Choir

  • Wednesday, March 17 - Band

Five Points Washington

Washington, Illinois

  • Tuesday, April 13 - Band

Questions? Please contact [email protected] or call 708-479-4000 x1