Villa Grove teen to join group touring Europe in June
VILLA GROVE – Though Joe Gulick has studied music and played musical instruments since he was 5, he has only just begun to find his musical voice.
After two years in choir at Villa Grove High School, Joe has been recognized for his singing abilities, including a Best of Day distinction for his vocal solo at this year's Illinois High School Association solo and ensemble contest.
He was invited to tour Europe this summer as a tenor and musical ambassador in the Voyageurs Ambassadors of Music program.
Joe, a 16-year-old junior who also plays piano, percussion and guitar, was nominated for the program by his school choir director and band director.
Villa Grove choir director Janet McCumber says Joe – who also takes private lessons with McCumber – is one of the most talented students she has ever had.
"He has an amazing ability. He's a very sensitive musician," she said. "He is a musician all the way through."
McCumber said she nominates students for the program who are stellar musicians and have the maturity and personality to handle themselves away from home.
"It's an honor for them because they are not only representing their town, but they're representing their whole country," McCumber said.
According to Chris Lange of the Voyaguers Ambassador of Music program, Illinois takes a group of performers in choir, concert band, orchestra and jazz ensemble on tour every other year.
Lange estimates out of the close to 200 students nominated, only 20 are from the downstate area.
Lange, from Newman, will be chaperoning and teaching the saxophone section. She stays involved because she is impressed with the program and the effect it has on the children who participate.
"They have the opportunity to become their own person and to grow musically along with it," she said.
The group has an intense, weeklong rehearsal camp in the Chicago area before leaving for Europe on June 21 for the 16-day tour.
Joe is looking forward to "the experience of being in different countries and seeing how people live outside of the U.S.," he said. "Being able to do music while I'm there is an added bonus."
Joe doesn't know yet what he wants to do after high school, but he does know that music will always be a part of it. He is hoping for a musical scholarship for college but also has ambitions in the medical field.
Joe says music is pretty much his life.
"Doing anything with music – playing it, teaching it or writing it – really gives me a sense of who I am.
"A lot of things I've learned from music, I use in life."
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