GALESBURG — Seven Galesburg High School students have been selected to participate in the Illinois Music Education Association’s 2026 All-State Student Programs in Peoria from Jan. 28–31, 2026. The students are Charlie Ament, Carter Bohm, Joshua Cobb, Jorgiana Donald, Emily Edwards, Sophia Huizenga and Mohamed Shehata.

Seven Galesburg High School musicians were selected for the 2026 ILMEA All-State Programs. Left to right (top to bottom): Mohamed Shehata, Carter Bohm, Charlie Ament, Joshua Cobb, Emily Edwards, Jorgiana Donald, and Sophia Huizenga. (Photo courtesy of Galesburg District 205).

Students in grades 7–12 who participated in the ILMEA District Festivals were eligible for All-State selection. During the fall, 23,000 students from elementary, junior high and high schools across Illinois participated in a virtual audition process. Of those auditions, about 7,000 students were selected to participate in district festivals celebrating student musicians in bands, orchestras, choruses and jazz ensembles.

This year, 2,000 students were selected statewide to participate in the ILMEA 2026 All-State Student Programs.

The All-State Student Programs run concurrently with the Illinois Music Education Conference. The event draws more than 12,000 students, educators, parents and music education industry vendors to the Peoria Civic Center.