The ILMEA Large Group Festival Series!
Join us for the 2026 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 Tuesday, September 2, 2025 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 click the “Submit Another Response" prompt upon submission!
If the location is full, please fill out the waitlist form.
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois
March 11, 2026 - Bands
March 12, 2026 - Orchestras, Choirs
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, Illinois
March 17, 2026 - Bands
March 18, 2026 - Choirs
Moraine Valley Comm. College
Palos Hills, Illinois
TBA
MARIACHI FESTIVAL
District 9
(open to participants from any district!)
TBA
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois
March 14, 2026 - Bands
Five Points Washington
Washington, Illinois
April 21, 2026 - Bands
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois
Schedule TBA
Guitar Festival
District 1
(open to participants from any district!)
TBA
Questions? Please contact [email protected] or call 708-479-4000 x1