ARTIST OF THE WEEK 2026
April 2, 2026
Gallery • 1 Photos
Photo by Ja’Nyah Villa
MARCH 22–APRIL 4: Senior Gwen Nika was named Artist of the Week for her outstanding contributions to the WEGO band program and a major recent achievement. Nika was selected as a winner of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra’s 2025–2026 Concerto Competition, an honor that highlights her exceptional musicianship. On March 8, she performed the first movement of the Devienne Flute Concerto, demonstrating both technical precision and expressive artistry. A cornerstone of the band program, Nika continues to lead through her dedication, talent, and commitment to excellence.
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About the Contributor
Ja’Nyah Villa, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Ja’Nyah Villa is a senior in her fourth year of writing for the Chronicle! She started her journalism career during her freshman year, and her experience built up her credentials. She is one of five co-hosts for the Chronicle’s video news segment “What’s the word Wego?” Additionally, she is the co-editor-in-chief for the paper. Ja’Nyah hopes to pursue a career in book publishing or journalism. She is very driven and dedicated to her schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
Outside of Journalism, Ja’Nyah is an active member of Wego Drama and serves on the leadership team as Senior Representative. There, she spends most of her time on stage and has even been part of a state-qualifying play. Aside from theater, Ja’Nyah is passionate about her music classes. She is a 3-year member of Wego’s Honors Acappella Chamber Choir, where she dedicates hours of her time to practice and go to gigs; She is also a member of the concert choir.
Ja’Nyah’s hobbies include reading and listening to music. So far, she has read 8 books in 2025, and her favorite book is “Thunderhead,” by Neal Shusterman. She also enjoys listening to music (while she reads and otherwise)! Her top 5 artists on Spotify are Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, BoyWithUke, Conan Gray, and Lizzy McAlpine. Her favorite genres are pop, punk, rock, and musical theater!