Plainfield South High School senior Katelyn Cook didn’t initially want to play the French horn.
She already played piano, but her dad, Jerrod Cook, who is the band director at Plainfield South, loved the French horn.
“Now I honestly don’t think I’d play another instrument,” Katelyn said.
She started playing the curvy brass instrument in fifth grade. In 2025, in her senior year, she is heading to the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) District 9 jazz, choir, band, and orchestra festival for the sixth straight year.
Katelyn is likely the first student in District 202 history to be selected to attend the District 9 festival consecutively from seventh grade.
She was chosen for the orchestra and will perform at the senior concert festival on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Dundee Crown High School in Carpentersville.
Her twin sister, and Plainfield South senior, Kamryn, was also chosen for the orchestra and will play percussion.
Each year, Katelyn Cook sets new goals for herself at ILMEA.
She was named first chair one year, and has a chance to be chosen for the all-state orchestra this year, which would be a first for her. Those chosen for all-state will perform at the ILMEA conference in Peoria from January 28 to January 31, 2026.
She credits her parents and sister for pushing her to be better each year.
“You are enough, and if you are competitive, you can achieve whatever you set out for yourself,” Katelyn said.
Jerrod Cook said he is honored to be Katelyn’s dad and band director.
“Katelyn has always been a hard worker and has always done her best, which put her on a path to success,” he said.
“Her success with ILMEA is just one example where her hard work and dedication have really paid off.”
Karen Bedore, band director at Aux Sable Middle School, where Katelyn attended, said she is proud of her former student.
“Katelyn was a dedicated musician and hard worker, excelling at everything she did,” Bedore said.
