A local student’s accomplishment was music to the Norridge and Harwood Heights community’s ears.
Claudia Kubarycz, a Ridgewood High School junior, has been selected as perform Jan. 28 through 31 in Peoria as part of the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference. She’s the school’s first all-state musician in 50 years.
Among the goals of the Illinois Music Educators Association are to nurture a lifelong love of learning music, as well as provide outlets to allow student musicians to partake of the festival performance experience, according to its website.
“I didn’t think I would make it this far,” Kubarycz said. “I didn’t even think I would make this accomplishment.”
Steve Klaus, a Ridgewood music teacher, was more forthcoming.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Claudia is one of the top high school musicians in the state of Illinois,” he said.
Kubarycz’s interest in music began early.
“I’ve played some kind of instrument since second grade,” she said.
For nearly seven years, her preference was for classical guitar.
“But I switched because my friends played violin, and I wanted to join them,” she explained.
That genre still tugs at her heart.
“What I like about classical music is that it takes me to different place,” she said. “I admire all the different aspects taking place at one time in a piece of classical music. It’s not all the repetition like music on radio.”
To make the all-state roster, Kubarycz in October had to audition for a spot in the District 1 festival, according to Klaus.
“She placed fifth chair out of approximately 42 violins that were selected,” he said.
Preparing for the conference performances will include auditioning for placement, Kubarycz said.
“We have excerpts of compositions we to learn for the audition,” she explained. “Those excerpts probably will be the most difficult parts of the works.”
Growing up, Kubarycz had other interests besides music.
“I used to play sports,” she said of her grammar school days, “but I was disappointed in how little time I had left to spend with my violin.”
Kubarycz said she envisions a future in music performance.
“I hear a lot about how hard it is,” she said, “but I know how hard work will help me reach my goal. I don’t want to do other things.”