The Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS) Jazz Ensemble has been selected to perform as a featured group at the 2026 Illinois Music Education Conference (IMEC) in Peoria. The ensemble, led by Director Anthony Svejda, is among a small number of full ensembles chosen through a competitive audition process.
“Only a handful of full ensembles are selected to perform at the state level,” said Svejda. “It’s a rigorous audition process that takes months of preparation, from recording repertoire to gathering letters of recommendation and hosting guest clinicians. Getting in is a true accomplishment.”
Svejda emphasized that this recognition highlights both individual student talent and the group’s collective discipline and creativity. The upcoming IMEC performance follows years of development for the ensemble and reinforces OPRFHS’s standing in high school jazz education.
This year, the ensemble’s repertoire includes an Afro-Peruvian jazz piece titled “Quadra 11.” Svejda found this work through his son’s playlist and quickly reached out to composer Anibal Seminario to secure the unpublished music for his students. To ensure an authentic performance, Svejda brought in Juan Pastor, director of jazz studies at North Central College and member of Seminario’s band.
“We heard it and immediately thought, ‘This is something special,’” Svejda said. Within hours, he had contacted the composer, Anibal Seminario, and secured the unpublished piece to bring it to life with his students.
To deepen the authenticity of the performance, Svejda brought in Juan Pastor, a local jazz percussion expert and director of jazz studies at North Central College, who, it turns out, plays with Seminario’s band. “It’s the kind of full-circle moment that only happens in music,” Svejda said.
With 22 students participating this year, Svejda noted their dedication: “These kids work incredibly hard,” he said. “They deserve to be heard.”
For those unable to attend the January 29 IMEC performance in Peoria, there will be additional opportunities:
– On February 3, OPRF will host its Jazz Concert featuring both its Jazz Ensemble and middle school groups from Julian and Brooks.
– On February 18, OPRFHS will present its IMEC set at Chicago’s Jazz Showcase as openers for Bob Lark.
The statewide honor comes as interest in arts programs grows at OPRFHS. The district plans further investment through Act 3—an initiative aimed at improving performing arts facilities for band, choir, orchestra, and theater programs.
Oak Park and River Forest High School serves grades 9 through 12 with an enrollment of nearly 3,400 students during the 2019-2020 school year according to data from Illinois Report Card. Of these students, grade 10 had the highest proportion at just over one-quarter according to state records. The school’s population during that period was composed primarily of white students (56.9 percent), with black students making up about one-fifth; Hispanic students accounted for approximately one-eighth; Asian students represented less than four percent according to demographic data.
